Surrey Occasions | Summer 2016

Horse power Celebrating everything equestrian i n t e rv i e w s

Sculptor: Nic Fiddian Green Fundraiser: Karen Sugarman Sportswoman: Anne Dickins food and drink

Meet Redhill spice sensation Hari Ghotri plus

Discovering Dorking Anthea Turner’s picnic picks James Braxton talks car booty win

Grandstand tickets for Goodwood and a day of pampering at Grayshott Health Spa

algarve

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PL ACE T H AT FEEL S L IK E I T WA S MADE FO R YO U. B E C AU S E

I T

WA S

Estrada da Quinta do Lago 8135-106 Almancil Telephone +351 289 350 700 www.conradhotels.com

WIN! IN THIS ISSUE

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Two Grandstand tickets for The Goodwood Festival of Speed plus a family ticket for the Supercar Event at Dunsfold Park

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Win a tanning session with TruTan near Hampton Court Palace

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A free online fitness class courtesy of Barreworks in Richmond

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A Dynamic Spa day for two at Grayshott Spa

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Inside

this issue Summer 2016

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16 On the cover: ‘Still Water’ by sculptor Nic Fiddian-Green

regulars

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SO Welcome Summer is finally here and we’ve got plenty of ideas and inspiration for making the most of it in our wonderful county SO Noteworthy News, views and updates from around the county

12 SO What’s on

Theatre, music, shows and exhibitions coming up in Surrey this summer

22 SO Fashion

With the racing season upon us, its time to think about your race-day colours. We’ve been inspired this summer by true blues

26 SO Beauty

Get yourself beach-ready with our pick of summer’s essential beauty buys

28 SO Wellbeing

Surrey Occasions goes on a rejuvinate spa break to Macdonald Frimley Hall Hotel and Spa

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30 SO Travel

Amanda Fisher takes us off the beaten track to explore the authentic side of the Algarve

38 SO Homes

How to bring the outside into your home this summer – whatever the weather

50 SO Secret Surrey

We discover ten things you might not know about Dorking

s u m m e r f e at u r e s

16 SO Interview

Amanda Fisher speaks to Surreybased equestrian sculptor, Nic Fiddian-Green about what it is about horses that inspires him

20 SO Horse racing

As part of this special Equestrianthemed issue, we take a look at Her Majesty the Queen’s racing past at Surrey’s most famous racecourse – Epsom Downs

24 SO Interview

Claire Mahoney speaks to fundraiser extraordinaire – Karen Sugarman about her work for Surrey-based children’s hospice charity – Shooting Star Chase

34 SO Food & Drink

Olivia Greenway meets Surrey spice sensation, Hari Ghotra, ahead of taking up her role as the new executive chef at London’s Tamarind Kitchen

42 SO Sport

When Oxted resident Anne Dickins volunteered to work as a physiotherapist at the London 2012 Olympics, she never dreamt that it would lead to a place on the new GB paracanoeist squad. Words and pictures by Gretta Schifano

46 SO Show Report

The Surrey Occasions team report from an action-packed Surrey County Show at Guildford’s Stoke Park

30 48 SO Music

Claire Mahoney speaks to Gloria Jones, singer and ex-partner of the late Marc Bolan about a project to build a music school in Sierra Leone dedicated to Bolan’s memory columns

40 SO Homes

Anthea Turner shows us how to picnic in style this summer and selects her favourite spots in Surrey for dining al-fresco

44 SO Vintage

Antiques expert and TV presenter, James Braxton gives us his top tips for buying and selling at car boot sales

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Editor Claire Mahoney T: 07812 106992 E: claire@surreyoccasions.co.uk Designer Paul Buckley T: 01484 660090 E: paulb@surreyoccasions.co.uk Advertising sales Theresa Hadfield T: 07801 054797 E: marketing@surreyoccasions.co.uk Publisher Paula Winchcombe Surrey Occasions T: 07766 257776 E: paula@surreyoccasions.co.uk Printed and distributed by Bishops Printers T: 02392 336917 E: enquiries@bishops.co.uk Contributors Anthea Turner James Braxton Karen Glaser Amanda Fisher Olivia Greenway Gretta Schifano This publication may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form in whole or in part without written consent of the publishers. © Surrey Occasions 2016.

The views expressed in Surrey Occasions magazine are those of its individual authors, not those of Surrey Occasions and its editors and publishers. While precautions have been take to ensure the accuracy of the contents of the magazine, and neither the editors, publishers or its agents can accept responsibility for damages or injury which may arise there from.

About Surrey Occasions Surrey Occasions is a courtesy glossy, lifestyle magazine with a circulation of 12,500.

The quarterly title is distributed within selected high-quality residential and commercial areas. It is circulated through quality independent newsagents with the Sunday newspapers, to affluent homes, and by hand to readers across Surrey.

Areas covered include Weybridge, Walton, Virginia Water, Cobham, Tadworth, Claygate, Oxted, Oxshott, Thames Ditton and Guildford. Golf and country clubs, health clubs and spas, top hotels and other chosen venues receive numerous copies of the magazine to share with guests and visitors.

Welcome Hello!

After a pretty chilly spring, it looks, at last, that summer has finally arrived and we at Surrey Occasions are here to help you make the most of it!

Our own summer season kicked off with the fantastic Surrey County Show at Stoke Park in Guildford.

We had a great day at the show interviewing stall holders and capturing the ambience of the event – all of which you can watch in a series of mini vlogs now up on our website: surreyoccasions.co.uk The last weekend of May was, in fact, an extremely busy weekend for us as on the Friday before the Surrey County Show, we were thrilled to have been invited to The Shooting Star Chase Afternoon Tea at the Dorchester Hotel in London.

“We thought it would be nice to pay a Surrey-style tribute to Britain’s longest serving monarch by making this issue something of an equestrian special” This event is a key date in the Surrey-based hospices fundraising calender. It was hosted by the charitys vice president, music business and TV supremo, Simon Cowell. The hard work behind this glamorous event, which raises thousands for the charity each year, is all down to director of fundraising, Karen Sugarman, and her team. I was lucky enough to speak to Karen ahead of the afternoon tea for our interview on page 24.

Despite the charity having an A-list rosta of supporters, Karen is not in the least star-struck and is totally focussed on raising an astonishing £10 million a year which keeps the two Shooting Star Chase children’s hospices providing vital services to families and children with lifeshortening illness.

On a lighter note, given that it is Her Majesty The Queen’s 90th this year, we thought it would be nice to pay a Surrey-style tribute to Britain’s longest serving monarch by making this issue something of an equestrian special. Her Majesty’s love of horses is well-known and those of you who have attended the Epsom Derby at the beginning of June will have seen Her Majesty The Queen present The Derby Trophy for the first time in her reign. Turn to page 20 to find out more about her long association with Epsom Downs Racecourse.

Finally, we are absolutely thrilled to have been able to use an image of one of sculptor, Nic Fiddian-Green’s awe-inspiring horses on the cover of this issue. Nic is based in Surrey and and even though his pieces are exhibited all over the world, he feels his work is best reflected in the English landscape. Read why in Amanda Fisher’s fabulous article on page 16.

We really do hope you enjoy this packed edition of Surrey Occasions. Please do get in touch with your news and views. We welcome your feedback. You can also follow us on twitter @surreyoccasions and on Facebook – facebook.com/surreyoccasions.

Have a great summer!

Claire Mahoney Editor

surreyoccasions.co.uk 5

SO News & Updates

Noteworthy News & updates from around the county

Challenge yourself and raise funds for Surrey

This year’s Surrey Hills Challenge (SHC) charity event is set to be one of the biggest sporting challenge events in the county.

Four different running and walking challenges will take place on the beautiful landscape of the Surrey Hills, Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB), on Sunday 25th September 2016, raising funds for the Community Foundation for Surrey and the Surrey Hills Trust Fund.

The Greensand Way will form the backdrop to the event where the super fit can face the ultimate challenge with ‘The Ultra,’ a 60km run, ‘The Half,’ no ordinary walk (or run) in the park of 21km, ‘The Ten’, a fast and furious 10km or ‘The Five’, a family challenge 5km event.

The Ultra route starts in the picturesque town of Haslemere and weaves out of town towards the infamous Devil’s Punch Bowl, a large natural amphitheatre. Participants will scale Gibbet Hill, Wormley Hill, Hydon’s Ball, Hascombe Hill, Pitch Hill, Holmbury Hill, Leith Hill and finally Bury Hill. Each one of these hills gives a unique and varied view of the Surrey Hills.

The 60km Ultra is not for the faint hearted with the total climb of the route being the equivalent of climbing Mt. Snowdon in Wales, the highest point in the British Isles outside of the Scottish Highlands.

The Half joins the Ultra at the Duke of Kent School with their

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first challenge coming in the form of scaling Holmbury Hill. From here they head towards Leith Hill, the highest point along the Greensand Way at 954ft, with impressive views to back this up. Dorking marks the finish line for those taking on the Half and the Ultra.

The event will raise funds for the Community Foundation for Surrey and the Surrey Hills Trust Fund. The Community Foundation for Surrey is an independent charitable trust established to inspire local giving for local need. They have already supported over 1,800 local projects by awarding grants to fund local community and voluntary groups.

The Community Foundation established the Surrey Hills Trust Fund to exclusively help local projects and community groups within the Surrey Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB).

The Surrey Hills Challenge will take place on Sunday 25th September 2016. Registration fees per person for ‘The Ultra’ (60km) is £80, ‘The Half ’(21km) £35, ‘The Ten’ (10km) £25 and ‘The Five’ (5km) £15. A booking fee of £2 per registration is applicable. The event is open to everyone. Participants under the age of 16 must be accompanied by an adult or guardian.

For more information or to register visit: surreyhillschallenge.com or call 01483 720459 / 542221.

Wildlife lovers Did you know that we are a nation of wildlife lovers? Squire’s Garden Centres recent survey of almost 2,000 people found that a massive 98% of people enjoy watching wildlife in their garden.

Plus 78% would leave (or have already left) an area of their garden ‘wild’ to attract wildlife, and 32% spend over £50 each year feeding or caring for wildlife in their garden.

New kids clubs St George’s Weybridge Enterprises has developed an exciting range of activities for kids aged 3-16 years for the school holidays.

Activities range from an adventure camp to a moving-making course. There’s also a Rugby coaching academy with a very special Rugby International guest to coach the lucky attendees.

Parents can book in for a full week, a few days of active fun or even just a single morning. For more info visit: stgeorgesweybridge.com/holidayclubs

SO News & Updates

Everything and the kitchen sink

Top chef at Talbot Martin Blunos has been appointed executive chef at The Talbot in Ripley, ahead of a summer re-launch under its new management Bespoke Hotels.

Martin will be working alongside head chef, Paul Turner, (himself hailing from nearby Woking), to ensure the new-look menu at The Talbot suits numerous tastes and pockets.

One of the country’s best loved chefs, Martin has worked across the industry picking up Michelin Stars and dozens of accolades, as well as featuring worldwide via a range of culinary exhibitions and TV shows, including Iron Chef UK, Cookery School, and Master Chef Australia.

Totalling £1 million, the refurbishment works at The Talbot are currently ongoing and will focus on both the public spaces as well as the grounds and wedding facilities.

House renovations can be very disruptive to every day life. But they don’t have to be thanks to a unique idea from Guilfordbased company, Kitchenpod.

The company offers high quality temporary kitchens for hire to homeowners during kitchen and renovation projects – so you can still cook amid the chaos. The service can also be provided in partnership

The Museum Inspires Me Chelsea success Renowned Surrey-based landscapers Landform Consultants have taken home five highly regarded RHS accolades from this year’s RHS Chelsea Flower Show. The award winning construction and design team, Mark Gregory and Catherine MacDonald also received a Silver Gilt for Their Hartley Botanic Garden.

A collaborative exhibition that takes its inspiration from collections at the Haslemere Museum will go on display this summer.

The Museum Inspires Me will bring together the local artists’ group, The Pavilion Artists to create a body of works that celebrate the museum and its collections.

The exhibition is free and will run from 2 July to Saturday 27 August at Haslemere Museum, 78 High Street, Haslemere.

For further info visit: haslemeremuseum.co.uk.

with kitchen designers, interior designers, architects and building contractors.

The kitchens comprise modular units (pods), which can be installed in virtually any room within the home. The pods have been designed with sleek, contemporary lines and feature the latest Neff appliances.

What’s more, they can be up and running in two hours. All that is needed is access to a cold water supply and standard plug sockets.

The pods are priced at £29.90 (ex VAT) per day with a minimum rental period of two and a half weeks.

Kitchenpod was created by ex-banker, Ed Dean, as a result of his own experience of living through renovation projects. His belief was that a kitchen resource should be available to fill the void between struggling to make do and moving out during renovation projects.

For more info visit: kitchenpod.co.uk

Thai style The Thai street food experience has been brought to Friary Street in Guildford by restaurant chain Thaikhun, part of the Thai Leisure Group.

Inspiration for the quirky interior has been taken from the world famous Maeklong Market, a popular street food destination that has train tracks running straight down its middle! The menu is said to be just as authentic.

To book call: 01483 678800

@SurreyOccasions 7

SO News & Updates

Reigate laughing stock

Do you know your local lingo?

The Gag House Comedy club returns to Reigate this June with what is sure to be another sell out success.

The club will take place at the Reigate Manor Hotel on Reigate Hill at 8:30pm on Thursday 16th June.

Inel Tomlinson will be hosting the evening. A regular on the stand up comedy scene, Inel is one half of ‘Johnny & Inel’, the UK’s popular black comedy double act, who can be seen on their hit CBBC TV show ‘The Johnny & Inel Show’.

Also on the bill is Sarah Callaghan who was named as ‘One To Watch’ by TimeOut Magazine in 2014 and last year she took her debut show ‘Elephant’ to the Edinburgh Fringe which won her critical acclaim.

Closing the evening and sure to leave you blown away with their lightning fast

Adam Jacot de Boinod, author of The Meaning of Tingo and creator of the iPhone App Tingo, poses a vocabulary quiz from our local Surrey dialect. Can you guess the correct definition from the following three options for:

1) whirly A) a scarecrow made of old garments B) a turnstile C) unsteady, light-hearted

2) bly A) light blue B) impulsively; without deliberation C) a likeness

3) ampery A) in the opposite direction, the wrong way B) at full gallop C) decaying, getting rotten

GSC founder follows trail of the Bard

4) baulky A) short but thick-set B) anxious to avoid one, to get out of the way C) tired and dirty, in need of a bath

This August, as part of their ongoing New Beginnings fundraising campaign, Guildford Shakespeare Company’s Cofounder Matt Pinches will be walking 146 miles from Stratford-upon-Avon to Shakespeare’s Globe in London.

See bottom of page for answers

Raymond and Mr Timkins Revue

choreography and silly, slapstick humor is Raymond and Mr Timkins Revue.

Tickets are £12.50 (or £23.00 with food) To book visit: GuildfordFringe.com/Reigate or call: 0333 666 3366.

The New Beginnings Campaign, for which Matt is walking, is aiming to raise £75,000 by the end of 2016 as the first phase in the theatre company’s long term project of procuring a permanent home.

To support Matt you can sponsor him at: everyclick.co.uk/gscnewbeginnings.

You can keep up to date with all Matt’s training and the walk itself on the BardWalk blog mattsbardwalk.blogspot.com

Somme poppy appeal

Pride of place in Godalming

You may be used to wearing a red poppy in the autumn but this summer The Royal British Legion are hoping people will don a poppy pin of a different kind.

July the 1st marks 100 years since the start of the Battle of the Somme.

To help commemorate it, The Legion have launched a very special Poppy Pin. The pins are made from the brass of melted down shells found on the Somme battlefields and features a prominent red centre, the paint for which has been mixed with soil handpicked from the fields. The pins are a limited edition with only 19,240 made, the exact number of soldiers killed on the first day of the Battle of the Somme.

All proceeds raised from their sale through The Poppy Shop (poppyshop.org. uk) go directly to The Royal British Legion.

Each pin costs £39.99.

Prime Place in Godalming is a new collection of luxury apartments and townhouses in the heart of the town centre that will open its show home doors on Saturday 11th June.

Sue Gresswell, sales & marketing director at Prime Place, says: “Godalming is a charming market town and a great place to live, not least for its proximity to London.

Our homes are in an outstanding location

Answers: 1C) unsteady, light-hearted 2C) a likeness 3C) decaying, getting rotten 4B) anxious to avoid one, to get out of the way

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close to the High Street, opposite Waitrose, an easy walk from the station and minutes from the River Wey. The show apartment will give people the opportunity to see the quality of these homes and get a sense of what a great lifestyle they could have here.”

Prices start from £264,995. Viewings are by appointment only. Contact Hamptons International on: 01483 351933 or email: surreydi@hamptons-int.com

SO Advertorial

Take a trip down memory lane with Jackie The Musical Once there was a time with no mobile phones, no apps, no texting, no e-mails and no twitter. Angst ridden teenage girls waited with bated breath by the letterbox for their weekly issue of Jackie Magazine... unless their big sister got there first!

Jackie The Musical revisits those heady days, and tells the story of a present-day fifty-something divorcée who revisits her stash of well-thumbed Jackie magazines for the same reason she first read them nearly forty years ago: advice on how best to navigate the opposite sex.

The quizzes, the fashion tips, the ‘do’s and don’ts on a first date’ and above all the Cathy and Claire problem pages are all devoured eagerly by our plucky heroine ‘Jackie’ as she revisits the dizzy world of the teen bible. With her ex and a handsome new guy both on the scene, the valuable lessons she learnt as a girl begin to influence her future and Jackie discovers the one person in control of her life is – herself.

With a soundtrack featuring the era’s most beloved and memorable hits, including the sounds of Pop Idols Donny

Osmond, David Cassidy and Marc Bolan played live on stage, the show promises a whirlwind tour of Planet Seventies and a most fabulous night out!

The cast of 21 will be headed

by Janet Dibley as ‘Jackie’, Nicholas Bailey as Max and Graham Bickley as John.

Ex Jackie Magazine editor Nina Myskow is Jackie the Musical’s editor in chief.

Nina worked on the magazine for some years before becoming the first female editor in 1974. She says: “Professionally I was thrilled that I’d broken that barrier, loved working on the magazine and had a wonderful time: I went on tour with the Osmonds in France, spent time with Donny, David Cassidy, David Essex and Marc Bolan, all the heart-throbs, living our readers’ dreams (although being a decade older, not mine). My first visit to the States was on Elton’s private jet. I once ticked off Bowie: “If a man is going to wear nail varnish, David, it should at least not be chipped!” He laughed, thank God!”.

She said audiences should expect: “A fabulous, feel-good high-energy night that

‘JACKIE WILL MAKE YOU JUMP FOR JOY’

will transport you back to those fun days of when we were all young and not just young at heart. What more could you want?”.

For more info visit: Jackiethemusical.com

DAILY MAIL

Gardyne Theatre and Arden Entertainment, in association with DC Thomson & Co Ltd present

DIRECTOR

ANNA LINSTRUM

BOOK BY

MIKE JAMES

CHOREOGRAPHER

ARLENE PHILLIPS

TUE 7 - SAT 11 JUNE 0844 871 7646

*

atgtickets.com/wimbledon

*

Jackie ® © DC

Thomson & Co.

Ltd. 2016 · Photos : Pamela

Raith

*Fees apply. Calls cost 7p per minute plus your phone company’s access charge.

STARRING

JANET DIBLEY

SO News & Updates

Victoria given a French twist

The Victoria pub in Oxshott has been restored and converted by the White Brasserie Company and will re-open this summer.

New menus will focus on seasonal produce combining British pub food with a French twist.

Starters will feature Burgundian snails smothered in garlic herb butter or potted Cromer crab paired with toasted pain de Champagne. French mains such

Jam packed fringe 2016 has been a fantastic year for Guildford Fringe so far. They have been welcoming full houses into their monthly comedy clubs, ‘You Must Be Stoking’ and ‘Guildford Gag House’, as well as producing the first play of 2016, ‘Mummy’, which went down a storm. But, Guildford Fringe Festival is now only just around the corner and preparations are in full swing! It runs from the 1st-31st of July and with 2016 its 4th year, will offer almost one hundred events across twelve venues in Guildford.

Guildford Fringe Festival is based on the model of Edinburgh Fringe Festival, a little smaller, but the values remain the same - giving a platform for performers and audiences to try out something new at an affordable cost. In Guildford, the month of July is bursting at the seams with events ranging from theatre, comedy, music, poetry, children’s workshops, art exhibitions, cabarets and loads more.

All events are priced as low as possible, just to encourage everyone to try out as many as they can. For more info visit: GuildfordFringeFestival.com

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as steak frites and slow-cooked boeuf bourguignon with creamy mashed potato will be served alongside British pub staples such as Cornish beef burgers and hearty homemade pies.

Not forgetting the kids – there are half portions from the à la carte menu for older children and a dedicated kids menu for little ones, starring French chef extraordinaire, Henri le Worm.

For more info visit: victoriaoxshott.com

£7.7m economic impact of Guildford’s thriving Watts Gallery New research from the University of Surrey has revealed the significant economic impact Watts Gallery Artists’ Village has on national and local economy, contributing over £7.7 million in terms of additional gross turnover for the UK and supporting 124 additional jobs.

The research, conducted by the University of Surrey’s School of Hospitality and Tourism Management found that in 2015 Watts Gallery Artists’ Village directly contributed £2.62 million worth of additional gross turnover to other local businesses.

Professor Gang Li of the University of Surrey explained: “In times of economic austerity it is often arts and cultural institutions that suffer from reduced investment. However what is clear from our study is that investment in the arts has value beyond the aesthetic, directly contributing to local and national wealth.”

He continued, “Economic impact is generally measured in terms of gross value added (GVA) and our study found that every £1 local expense by the Artists’ Village

ultimately yielded £2.65 additional gross turnover, or £1.30 additional GVA, for the economy. That equates to local economic impact of nearly £3m and national impact of over £7m.”

Having raised funds of £11m, Watts Gallery Artists’ Village has undergone major renovation in recent years, increasing visitor numbers over 130% since 2011. The Artists’ Village attracted 35,000 visitors in 2015 alone, from as far afield as Australia, Poland and the USA. As a result, businesses in the local area have also benefitted from the increase of tourists in terms of income and job creation.

Perdita Hunt, director of Watts Gallery Trust, said: “The economic impact of Watts Gallery Artists’ Village could not have happened without the generosity of so many private donors and Trusts and Foundations. Philanthropy has been at the heart of this revival.

I would particularly like to thank the Heritage Lottery Fund, the Hazelhurst Trust and others whose generosity made this possible.”

SO Cow Parade

It’s been a busy few months for CowParade Surrey. Over 60 Cows have been sponsored and the cow parade mooover has been busy delivering cows out to artists ready for decorating.

World renowned artist Minna George took delivery of her cow at the Darren Baker Gallery in London. Minna is the chosen artist for Vines BMW and this cow will be auctioned off to support DreamFlight, a children’s charity which takes children with a serious illness or disability on the holiday of a lifetime.

Two cows, Mirror Moo & Pilgrim, took a trip up to the House of Commons in early March where they met the Surrey MPs, all of which showed their support of the project. Anne Milton, MP for Guildford, said: “I am delighted that the CowParade is coming to the Surrey Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. It’s great that this really innovative project will be brought right into the heart of our beautiful countryside. This is a great way to raise money for community projects that will help the Surrey Hills landscape to thrive. I hope to see many people, businesses and schools getting creative in sponsoring and decorating a cow!”

A successful networking event took place at the DeVere Horsley Towers in March which was well attended by businesses and artists all keen to get involved. Schools have embraced the project with many running

Calling all cow spotters!

This June the CowParade Surrey cows will be put out to graze with some 60 cows being dotted around the county for all to see. Those who find the most cows could be jetting off on a holiday to Mauritius! competitions with students desperate to have their design chosen.

Shottermill Infants School in Haslemere thoroughly enjoyed getting involved. Head mistress Mrs Jilly Storey says: “I think CowParade is marvellous for children. It inspires them to be as creative as possible, giving them a real sense of community.

The CowParade has created a buzz of excitement around the school, from parents as well as the children.” There is still time for schools to get involved, contact the CowParade Surrey team on 01483 661150 and order a mini moo – a great art project for the children.

A specially designed cow-spotter app, created by digital design agency Akiko Design, is free to download from

cowparadesurreyhills.com and will allow you to ‘check in’ to each cow as you find them around the county. You’ll discover lots about each cow as well as have the opportunity to win some fantastic prizes.

Those who find the most cows will be entered into a prize draw to win a Kuoni holiday to Mauritius!

The autumn will see the cows auctioned off for charity. Each cow sponsor gets to choose a charity of their own to benefit from half of the auction proceeds, with the other 50 per cent going to the Surrey Hills Trust Fund, established in partnership with the Community Foundation for Surrey to conserve and protect the Surrey Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

The fund supports local community projects and enterprise schemes that benefit and enhance the Surrey Hills.

Wendy Varcoe, executive director of the Community Foundation for Surrey says: “The Surrey Hills Trust Fund is an exciting local initiative enabling local residents to donate now to protect and conserve the stunning natural landscape and help local communities to access and enjoy the Surrey Hills for generations to come.”

To find out more about the Surrey Hills Trust Fund visit: surreyhills.org/trust-fund/

Mirror Moo & Pilgrim meeting Surrey MPs at The House of Commons

For all the latest news on CowParade, visit: cowparadesurreyhills.com or follow CowParade Surrey on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. surreyoccasions.co.uk 11

SO What’s On DON ’ T MISS !

June exhibitions

10 June – 30 July Fifty Years at Waggon Yard: Celebrating the Past, Inspiring the Future New Ashgate Gallery Waggon Yard, Farnham In 2016, the trust celebrates the 50th anniversary in this 17th century Grade II listed gallery.

The exhibition will offer a showcase of past, present and future artists and makers, including Peter Blake, Adam Aaronson, Peter Beard, Emma Dunbar, Michael Fairclough, Peter Hayes, Akiko Hirai, Richard Jack, Anita Klein, Heidi Koenig, Margaret O’Rorke, John Maltby, Gareth Mason, Fiona Millais, Jane Muir, Debbie Prosser, Duncan Ross, Jeni Ross, Guy Royle and Sarah Spackman.

Time: 10am–5pm Price: Free Tel: 01252 713208 newashgate.org.uk motors

18–19 June The Brooklands Double Twelve Motorsport Festival Brooklands Museum Weybridge This two-day extravaganza features Speed Trials, Driving Tests and the prestigious Double Twelve Concours, alongside family-friendly entertainment and activities.

Time: 10am–5pm Price: £6 to £11.00 Tel: 01932 857381 brooklandsmuseum.com gardens

19 June Painshill Landscape Garden Cobham, Surrey Spend the day with your dad in the beautiful landscape at Painshill.

Entry is free to all dads when accompanied by their children.

Time: 10:30am–6pm Tel: 01932 868113 painshill.co.uk 23–26 June National Insect Week RHS Wisley Immerse yourself in the hidden world of insects at RHS Wisley as part of National Insect Week.

Explore the delicate features of familiar insects such as honeybees under microscopes and find out how to study insects in your own garden.

Tel: 0845 260 9000 rhs.org.uk/gardens/wisely 12 surreyoccasions.co.uk

1 June – 20 September Surrey’s little piece of Provence Mayfield Lavender celebrates its 10 year anniversary this summer having provided the village of Banstead with its own little piece of Provence for a decade. Over the years thousands of visitors have toured the 25-acre organic lavender farm and enjoyed its wonderful fragrance and picturesque setting. This year the farm’s owners Lorna and Brendan Maye are hoping the lavender season will be the best yet and they can share its beauty with more people than ever.

Mayfield Lavender Banstead Time: 9am–6pm Price: £1.00 Tel: 07503 877707 mayfieldlavender.com

What’s On 26 June Shere Gardens Open Day Shere Nr Guildford One of the most picturesque villages in Surrey will be opening its garden gates and inviting the public to view a selection of around 26 beautiful private gardens. There will be an over-the-wall gardeners’ question time at the allotments, a Pimms stall and home-made teas in the village hall.

Time: 2pm–6pm Entry: Adults: £7; Over 60: £6; Children under 16: Free. shereopengardens.co.uk t h e at r e

19 June The Railway Children Open Air Theatre production Gatton Manor Hotel and Golf Club Standon Lane Ockley

E. Nesbit’s classic story is brought to life in a new production performed by The Chapterhouse Theatre Company in the pretty grounds of Gatton Manor Hotel and Golf Club.

Time: 5:30pm Price: Child – £10.00, Adult – £14.00, Family – 2 adults and 2 children – £42.00 Tel: 01306 627555

SO What’s On

wine

25 June Albury Vineyard Shere Road Albury Pop into the vineyard to sample tastings of home grown organic wines including the new vintage of the award-winning Silent Pool Rosé at this free event Time: 11am–4pm Entrance: Free Tel: 07768 863650 alburyvineyard.com fa i r s

24 June The Royal Surrey Summer Fair Holy Trinity Church Guildford Annual fundraiser for The Royal Surrey County Hospital’s Charitable Fund.

Time: 10am–4pm Entry: £1, children free Tel: 01483 464146

July fa i r s

9 July Party in the Park Woking Park Woking Families can enjoy a day of time travel, space-age fun, live performances and outdoor cinema in Woking Park, in honour of War of the Worlds author, H.G. Wells.

Times: 12pm–9pm Entry: Free exhibitions

Until 3 July Tim Rudman – An Uneasy Calm The Lightbox Chobham Celebrating and documenting one of our finest landscapes photographer’s experiences travelling through Iceland.

Time: 10am–5pm Tel: 01483 737800 thelightbox.org.uk motors

2–3 July Supercar Event Dunsfold Park The 10th anniversary of this event featuring Supercar passenger rides

around the Top Gear track from just £30. What’s more, by coming along you will be supporting The Children’s Trust, the UK’s leading charity for children with a brain injury.

Times: 9am–4.30pm Tickets: Family tickets £30.00 Individual: £13.00 seetickets.com 10 July Macmillan Classic Motor Show & Family Day Clandon Park West Clandon Classic motor display plus antiques auction, birds of prey, stalls and children’s entertainment Tickets: £7.00, under 12’s free macmillan.org.uk shows

5–10 July Hampton Court Flower show Hampton Court The magnificent setting of Hampton Court Palace is a sumptuous backdrop for the world’s largest annual flower show.

Times: 10am–7.30pm Tickets:From £31.00 (Discounts for RHS members) rhs.org.uk 15–17 July Decorative Home & Salvage Show Loseley Park Guildford Find the best in reclaimed and salvaged materials, garden furniture and statuary, restored and up-cycled furniture, period home fixtures and fittings, decorative and architectural antiques, furnishings and industrial items.

Friday show preview: 12pm–5pm Saturday & Sunday: 10am–5pm Price: £5.00 asfairs.com 16 July Painshill Pooch Day Day out for dog lovers, families and four-legged friends. Prepare to be wowed with displays which show the incredible bond between man and dog including the famous Richard Curtis who will be performing his K9 Freestyle dog display and the Southern Golden Retriever Society’s Display Team.

Enter the fun dog show (entry fees apply) and enjoy the retail area selling luxury dog products.

Time: 9am–4.30pm Price: Normal entry fees apply painshill.co.uk

Time: 10am–5pm Price: £7.00 and £5.00.

Children free.

Cheeseandchillifestival.com

t h e at r e

16 July Peter Pan Open Air Theatre at Claremont Gardens by Chapterhouse Theatre Company Time: 7pm Price: £14/£10 and £40 chapterhouse.org f e s t i va l s

24–24 July Chilli and Cheese Festival Shalford Park Guildford Approximately 70 traders will be at this family-friendly event selling cheese and chilli associated products as well as craft and retail stands.

A children’s play zone will feature Punch and Judy shows, a magician, Falconry displays, children’s fun rides and inflatables. If that is not enough, there is live music, a chilli eating competition, a chilli sauce competition and a giant interactive chilli.

t h e at r e

25–29 July A Play in a Week: Much Ado about Nothing The Lightbox Woking Celebrate the Bard’s birthday by joining The Guildford Shakespeare Company to create your own version of ‘Much Ado About Nothing’.

Rehearsals will be mixed with fun games and craft sessions, ending with an afternoon performance at The Lightbox for friends and family. No experience of Shakespeare required.

(7 – 11 year-olds). Book via the Guildford Shakespeare Company.

Time: 10am–3pm Price: £145 guildfordshakespearecompany.co.uk

DON ’ T MISS !

Shakespearean summer Celebrate 400 years of Shakespeare and 10 years of Surrey’s awardwinning Guildford Shakespeare Company, when they kick-off their annual outdoor theatre season with The Comedy of Errors. Staged at Guildford’s Castle Gardens, the company will be incorporating the iconic Castle Keep into the show as an austere gallows setting, from which audiences will be promenaded through the ornate gardens to the Victorian bandstand, re-imagined as the play’s market-place.

The Comedy of Errors is followed in July by the company’s 30th production, Much Ado About Nothing at the University of Law. The Comedy of Errors 14 June – 2 July (excl. Sundays).

Evenings 7.30pm Much Ado About Nothing 15 – 30 July (excl. Sundays).

Evenings 7.30pm; Sat mats 2.30pm (16, 23, 30 July).

Tickets: £25, (concessions £21), Children £16.50 (under 16).

Family tickets £80, (2 children, 2 full) Save £5 when booking for both plays at the same time. guildford-shakespeare-company.co.uk

@SurreyOccasions 13

SO What’s On DON ’ T MISS !

motors

7 August Brookland’s American Day A day devoted to stars and stripes as Brooklands welcomes some magnificent Mustangs and a whole host of American cars and motorbikes. There is a £1.00 reduction in the entry price for anyone arriving in an American car.

For tickets contact: events@ brooklandsmuseum.com or call: 01932 857381

(BBMF) will all be displaying at Dunsfold Aerodrome on both days.

Tickets: Advance tickets from £22 for adults or £50 for a family. Single child tickets (for children aged 5 – 15) will be £7. Children under 5 go free. wingsandwheels.net ok standard tickets call: 08712 305 572.

27–28 August Wings & Wheels Dunsfold Park Wings & Wheels returns for its twelfth year with an all-star line-up of RAF display teams. The Red Arrows, Typhoon, King Air and Battle of Britain Memorial Flight

24 August Wild West Fun Day Birdworld Farnham Saddle up and mosey on down to Birdworld for a fun day with a western theme. Cowboys and Indians all welcome for fun and games and prizes to be won.

Times: 10am–6pm Tickets: Usual admission prices apply birdworld.co.uk

DON ’ T MISS !

25 July – 31 August ‘Create & Grow’ Summer Holiday Fun Squire’s Garden Centres are running their ever-popular “Create & Grow” activities for children in the summer holidays every Monday and Wednesday (Wednesdays at selected centres*) from 25 July – 31 August.

Come along and join in the fun painting, decorating and planting.

There’s no need to book, simply turn up on the day. Activities include painting strawberry pots and pebble animals to creating baskets for hedgehogs to bed down in for the winter.

Times: 10am–4pm Location: All Squire’s Garden Centres (except Chertsey) squiresgardencentres.co.uk

August exhibitions

6 August Cor By Gum! Zarjaz! The Story of British Comics So Far Join the Lightbox’s comic characters on an interactive journey through the past, present and future of this ever-changing medium of sequential art. Enjoy The Beano, Eagle and 2000AD and explore today’s manga, graphic novels and digital comics.

Tickets: £5.00 for annual pass.

Under 18s free. thelightbox.org.uk shows

6–7 August Loxwood Joust Loxwood Meadow Loxwood

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Full contact jousting with fully armoured knights, plus falconry, a mediaeval market, living history camp, wandering minstrels, jesters and witches.

Tickets: £12.00 adults, £6.00 children Guildford Tourist Information Centre: 01483 444334 13–14 August Peppa Pigs’ Surprise New Victoria Theatre Woking Enjoy fun and games in this charming, colourful new performance which promises to be the perfect theatre show for all pre-schoolers Times: 1pm, 4pm (13th), 10am, 1pm (14th) Tickets: £17.15-£23.15 atgtickets.com

50 years of the Basingstoke Canal In 1966, the Basingstoke Canal was derelict with an owner planning to fill in parts of it for development. A letter in the local papers gathered a group of people together to fight for its future. The Society persuaded the County Councils of Surrey and Hampshire to take it into public ownership and after some 20 years of largely volunteer restoration work, the canal reopened to navigation in 1991. 2016 therefore also celebrates 25 years since the reopening.

As part of The Basingstoke Canal Society’s 50th anniversary celebrations, The Lightbox in Woking will host photographs by Rachel Talibart and Jenifer Bunnett that document the Basingstoke Canal volunteer work parties. An accompanying display charting the heritage and restoration of the canal will also feature. Look out for the Woking Canal Festival 2016, a boat rally and celebration at nearby Brook House Common on 6–7 August 2016. basingstoke-canal.org.uk

competition

WIN!

The Goodwood Festival of Speed is the world’s largest automotive garden party - set against the spectacular backdrop of Goodwood House in West Sussex.

Over 600 cars and motorcycles spanning the phenomenal history of motoring and motor sport take part with some of the most legendary figures from the sport as well as international celebrities regularly attending.

Readers of Surrey Occasions have the chance to get a bird’s eye view of the action by entering this fantastic competition to win two Grandstand passes for Sunday 26th June – plus lunch at the Richmond Arms.

A Grandstand pass guarantees a great view of the cars going up the hillclimb, which means savouring the incredible vehicles from a position of comfort and convenience - and covered from any potential rainfall.

This year Grand Prix machines from seven current Formula 1 teams will grace the hillclimb. The Festival of Speed is the only event, other than the British Grand Prix, where British fans can see so many F1 cars in action in one place, with an unrivalled level of access to both the cars and the drivers.

Two Grandstand tickets for The Goodwood Festival of Speed this June The Festival of Speed will take place from 23–26 June 2016 For more information and tickets visit: goodwood.com

To enter visit: surreyoccasions.co.uk and click on the link to the competitions page Entries close on 15th June 2016 – so be quick!

competition

WIN!

A family ticket to the Supercar Event The spectacular Supercar Event returns!

If you are looking for a special event that has something for the whole family, then look no further than The Supercar Event!

LaFerrari with host Craig Phillips

The Supercar Event, which is celebrating its 10th anniversary, returns to Dunsfold Park, Cranleigh, Surrey on Saturday 2nd and Sunday 3rd July 2016.

This fabulous weekend of entertainment, in aid of The Children’s Trust, offers exhilarating passenger rides in over 150 fabulous supercars around the famous Top Gear track from just £30! There’s a wide range of attractions for everyone, including a designated area of activities for youngsters.

This is an event not to be missed! To book tickets visit: thesupercarevent.com

We are offering the chance for readers to win a family entry ticket (2 adults, 2 children under 16) for Saturday 2nd July.

Just answer the question below:

Where is the Supercar Event held?

To enter visit: surreyoccasions.co.uk and click on the link to the competitions page Entries close on 15th June 2016

SO Arts

Head for the hills Nic Fiddian-Green’s stunning sculptures of horses are highly valued around the world in public and private collections. He tells Amanda Fisher why he is happiest working in his studio deep in the Surrey Hills

‘Still Water’ 12ft lead panels

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SO Arts

Although brought up in the peace and quiet of the English countryside, surrounded by horses, contemporary artist Nic Fiddian-Green stumbled upon the inspiration for his famous equine sculptures quite by chance in the hurly-burly of central London.

Nic was a student at Chelsea School of Art, browsing the British Museum’s collection of Elgin Marbles when he caught sight of the Great Horse of Selene - Greek Goddess of the Moon - in the form of an isolated head taken from the east pediment of the Parthenon in Athens.

Carved from marble around 438 BC by a master craftsman using the classical Greek principles of grace, beauty, serenity and harmony to create the scene of Selene’s team of horses, drawing her chariot below the horizon at dusk, the unexpected encounter with the power and grandeur of that ancient horse’s head had an immediate and lasting lightening-bolt effect on the 20 year-old Nic. Thirty-three years on, he recalls that it was as if the head had been carved by the gods as a lesson in balance, harmony and proportion, so right in every respect that Selene’s horse was to become the benchmark for all the work Nic would produce over the next three decades. “The quality embodied in the horse represents an animal that has changed the life of man through the centuries,” Nic says, “almost the very first piece of sculpture of many thousands of years ago was a carved head of a horse.”

Nic’s sculptural pieces representing the shape and sensitivity of a horse’s head are spectacular, stunning and size-wise monumental.

They can be found dotting the British landscape, in glorious settings such as Chatsworth, Glyndebourne Opera House, Goodwood and Royal Ascot Race Courses and Wellington School. Examples also dominate busy city centres around the world - including Still Water in London where the 33-foot-high head of a horse dips its lips to sip calmly from a vast trough at the heart of the urban auto-jungle that encircles Marble Arch.

“Monumental work has an impact on the landscape both urban and rural and can change the atmosphere of the surrounding air,” says Nic. “It inspires me and surprises me still when I see these gigantic pieces in the landscape, so different from when I begin them in my studio.”

Nic’s studio is set up in a large east-facing shed near his home in the rolling hills near Godalming, where he lives with his wife, Henrietta, and four children, along with the horses all six enjoy riding together through the unspoilt surrounding Surrey countryside.

Nic feels that being able to live and work in such a peaceful, rural location is important. “We are isolated on a windswept hill, surrounded by little else but nature. This has been a place of inspiration for 30 years and luckily I’ve plenty of space there.”

Nic at work in his studio on ‘Artemis, I will look beyond for a distant land’

“We are isolated on a windswept hill, surrounded by little else but nature.

This has been a place of inspiration for 30 years” He likes to start work around 5.30am: “because of the quality of the morning light playing over the quiet fields,” and often uses his family’s horses as models. The Marble Arch sculpture, based on his wife’s horse Sebastian, is one of his ‘Horse at Water’ compositions, with which Nic has been experimenting since 1983. The work is a tribute to Sebastian who nearly died from poisoning but was nursed back to health by Henrietta. At the time, Nic was ill himself, having been diagnosed with Leukaemia. He’d been due to start work on a private commission, but it would be three years before the piece called ‘Mawari’ - his first rendition of the ‘Horse at Water’ series was completed. The colossal 27-foot-high sculpture was displayed at Marble Arch temporarily while waiting for planning permission to be granted for it to be erected at Sir Anthony and Lady Bamford’s Daylesford estate in Gloucestershire. It proved so popular with the public that Westminster City Council ordered the larger permanent version we admire today.

Although Nic’s gigantic sculpted heads are hewn from many different materials, all start life as sketches, but not in the

@SurreyOccasions 17

SO Arts

“Horse at Water’, 16ft lead panels

conventional sense. “The act of drawing is not an important part of the process as my preparatory work is always sketched in clay,” Nic explains.

“I employ many mediums, but each lend themselves to a different feeling that I want to express through the horse’s head. I use bronze, lead, marble, Lapis Lazuli, and Indian soapstone among others. I love working the wet clay on a gigantic horse’s head where I can create a broad gestural surface, or the more precise use of plaster or soapstone, less forgiving materials, but just as interesting, or whittling a tiny Lapis head in the palm of my hand requiring yet another form of discipline. It is often the material itself that suggest the form to me.”

The process of making a sculpture varies with commissions taking anything from one week to a year. “Depending on the scale, as much of my time is spent contemplating and planning as actually up ladders and scaffolding working the clay.”.

When casting his bronzes, Nic uses a technique known as the ‘lost-wax method’. He works for several weeks on the clay model, before taking a mould. Wax is painted on the inside of the mould, then a ceramic shell is put around the wax and both are fired in a kiln. The heat melts out the wax, leaving the shell into which liquid bronze is poured to create an accurate reproduction of the original clay model. When the shell is removed, the bronze statue is revealed, ready to be finished by hand, smoothing and polishing away rough areas.

Nic’s landmark sculpture of a 35ft high horse head on a stone pedestal stood for a short time on Trundle Hill above Goodwood Racecourse, looking over the Solent to the Isle of Wight. It is now at Ellerston in the Great Dividing range in NSW Australia, and is Nic’s favourite sculpture.

“Inspired directly by the Ancient Greeks, the piece is otherwise known as ‘Artemis’ or ‘Look Beyond for a Distant Land’,” Nic says.

18 surreyoccasions.co.uk

But the one location Nic feels best suits the size and subject of a work he’s undertaken is in England. “I suppose the piece at Marble Arch, which has had a great reaction from the public and passersby in a very positive way. It is a really remarkable site; not an attractive position on the face of it, but people tell me they feel the space has been transformed for the better by having my sculpture there.”

His most recent work is also city-centred - a giant 16-foot-high horse’s head inspired by the horses of the Chinese Han Dynasty commissioned by Swire Properties in Hong Kong to stand in an ornamental garden at One Island East.

Nic has exhibited his sculptures in major galleries in Paris, New York, Sydney, Philadelphia and Dublin - occasionally giving live demonstrations.

“I have worked alone all of my life,” Nic says, “but have recently enjoyed demonstrating some of the techniques I use at pop-up exhibition spaces with the Sladmore Gallery in London, both at Masterpiece London and at the gallery on Bruton Place. These were hugely popular as people seem fascinated by the processes and the ‘making’ of my sculpture.”

Working live, Nic’s aware of people’s instant reactions. “I think somebody recently described my work as expressing a sense of serenity. I hope that the encounter that people have might be uplifting, perhaps inspiring in a good way, and also calming as they sense the calm spirituality of the pieces, a stillness, and grace.”

So what’s Nic latest project? “At present I am working on miniature works in stone, particularly semi precious lapis lazuli, amethyst, malachite and Indian soapstone, though my main focus will always be my larger sculpture,” he reveals.

“My London gallery and I plan to have a series of open days at my studio and the surrounding hills and valleys later this year showing many of my monumental pieces in the landscape.”

So watch this space to find out exactly when and where you’ll be able to see Nic’s works exhibited in the natural setting of the Surrey countryside.

MICAELA CIANCI PHOTOGRAPHY CIANCIMICAELA@GMAIL.COM

T: 07939 129 255 W: MICAELA-CIANCI.COM

SO Sport Horse Racing

Racing & royalty When the Queen’s diary is drawn up in outline 18 months in advance, the first entries made are always the five days of Royal Ascot and Derby Day at Epsom. SO takes a look at Her Majesty’s history at Surrey’s most famous racecourse

The Queen leads her Oaks winner Carrozza, with Lester Pigott in the saddle 2 June 1957

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As 2016 marks the Queens 90th year, it was a very special Investec Derby Day at Epsom on 4th June. To honour the occasion, it was the first time in her reign that Her Majesty presented the Derby Trophy, despite having attended nearly every Derby Day since her Coronation.

Over the years Her Majesty has had 10 runners in the Derby, among them a runnerup (Aureole 1953 four days after her Coronation) and Carlton House who finished third in 2011, having started out as a well-fancied favourite, but she has still to taste victory in racing’s premier classic.

Though the Investec Derby continues to elude Her Majesty, she has had a winner at Epsom Downs on Derby Day twice in the 1990s, thanks to Enharmonic (1993) who won the Group Three Diomed Stakes by a head and Arabian Story (1997), who made all for an easy win in the Paknet Rated Stakes. Frankie Dettori was the successful jockey both times, while the horses were saddled by Lord Huntingdon. Her most recent Epsom success came from the Richard Hannon-trained Quick Reaction, who landed a ninefurlong maiden at the April meeting in 2010.

SO Sport Horse Racing

Her Majesty on The Balcony at Epsom Downs Racecourse in 2012

The Queen’s interest in racing began at an early age. On a visit to Fred Darling’s stables in the spring of 1942, the then 16-year-old Princess Elizabeth was introduced to Big Game, the recent winner of the 2000 Guineas at Newmarket for George VI, an occasion she was said to have found awe-inspiring and marked the beginning of her lifelong passion for horseracing.

Astrakhan, given as a wedding present by the Aga Khan, was the first racehorse owned by the Queen. Astrakhan ran second on her debut at Ascot in October 1949 and her horses have competed at the top level ever since. Amongst the horses that she has owned and bred over the years, there have been several outstanding Royal runners.

The Queen’s horses have won five British Classics: • Pall Mall won the 2000 Guineas in 1958 • Highclere won the 1000 Guineas in 1974 • Carrozza won the Epsom Oaks in 1957 • Dunfermline won the Epsom Oaks in 1977 and also won the St Leger Stakes that same year.

Over the last 60 years, every jockey of high standing has ridden horses for the Queen. From Sir Gordon Richards in the 1950s to Frankie Dettori today, each of them attests to the special thrill of donning the distinctive Royal silks.

“Wearing the Royal silks and knowing Her Majesty is cheering you on is a pretty incredible feeling. I feel very proud and very honoured to have been able to ride for the Queen for so many years.

She knows everything about all her horses.” says Dettori.

Dettori has given the Queen’s two wins at Epsom Downs on Derby Day in the 1990s.

The Queen does not retain her own jockey. Her horses are ridden by jockeys affiliated to the stable where her horses are trained. In recent times, some of the world’s most talented jockeys such as Ryan Moore and Richard Hughes have ridden for the Queen, as well as up and coming names such as the 2015 Stobart Champion Apprentice, Tom Marquand. Over jumps, both Sir Anthony McCoy and Richard Johnson have ridden for the Queen.

Hayley Turner became the first female jockey to ride a winner for Her Majesty when steering Tactician to success at Newbury in April 2010.

The jockeys riding Her Majesty’s horses can be identified by The Queen’s racing colours: purple body with gold braid, scarlet sleeves, and black velvet cap with gold fringe – the same as those of King Edward VII and George IV as Prince Regent.

The Queen had two principal trainers when she ascended the throne. Horses bred by The Royal Studs were trained by Cecil Boyd-Rochfort (step-father to the late Sir Henry Cecil), while those she leased from The National Stud were entrusted to Noel Murless.

The Queen’s present day flat trainers are Sir Michael Stoute, Richard Hannon Jnr, Michael Bell, Roger Charlton, Andrew Balding and William Haggas, while Nicky Henderson and Charlie Longsdon train the Royal Jumps horses. The Queen is said to be a prolific writer of letters to each of her trainers and traditionally this has been the means by which she notifies them of which young horses they have been allocated to train each year.

“Training for Her Majesty is a privilege. Having grown up with my father training horses for The Queen, I understood from an early age what an honour it was, but it was when I took over the licence myself that I realised the knowledge and passion The Queen has for the sport,” says trainer Andrew Balding.

As part of racing’s celebrations of Her Majesty’s birthday a special exhibition will also be touring race courses throughout the summer, charting the Queen’s involvement in racing throughout her life.

For more information visit: epsomdowns.co.uk

Trainer Nicky Henderson and jockey Sir Anthony McCoy

@SurreyOccasions 21

SO Fashion

True

Get a head start

blue

Get race day ready with shades of this season’s deep blues for a classic but feminine silhouette

Milliner, Jane Taylor, whose clients include The Duchess of Cambridge, Zara Tindall, The Countess of Wessex and Princess Eugenie, knows a thing or two about hats. Her bespoke service includes a made-to-dye option, where fabrics and colours can be matched and dyed to your exact requirements.

She says that choosing a hat is an opportunity to have a little fun and show your eccentric side.

“Make sure you go for something that’s eye catching but doesn’t look over the top and cheap, as accessories complete an outfit. If you want to go to town with the hat, its best to keep the dress simple or the overall look will be too busy.

When dressing for the Royal enclosure the hat base should be no smaller than 10cm diameter and keep it chic.”

Jane Taylor Millinery stockists include Harrods and Fenwicks. The Placido hat (pictured) is £1,248 and available at janetaylorlondon.com

Safe bet Team this navy lace overlay halter-neck top with a figure skimming skirt for a classic, feminine look. The classic A line shaped skirt falls just below the knee - a perfect length to cover you for any race day dress restrictions. Top £69.00.

Skirt £129.00 from Coast.

Hat trick!

London’s Lock & Co Hatters celebrates its 340th anniversary this year and as part of the celebrations will be offering guests at Mayfair’s famous Dukes hotel with a complimentary hat service to kick off the summer season.

The service includes top hat polishing, band and bow changing and hat fittings.

Nightly rates Dukes London start from £311 inclusive of VAT and breakfast, with a complimentary upgrade to the next room category.

Tel: 020 7491 4840 or visit: dukeshotel.com

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Raise the stakes

Neutral ground

Turn heads in this beautiful figure hugging laser-cut dress in navy and lime by Ronald Joyce. £499.95 from Serendipity Fashions (Guildford). 01483 577475 serendipityfashions.co.uk

Continue the lace look with these Alaska Nude shoes from Jessica Wright Footwear. They also have cheeky gold glitter soles! £48.99 from Lipsy, House Of Fraser and stores across the UK.

Top up your tan

WIN

Tanning experts Tru Tan & Beauty in East Molesey, are offering SO readers a free 20 minute session on one of their state-of-the-art sunbeds.

Winners will enjoy a tanning session on either the The Sun Angel (one of only five in the UK) or Collarium collagen sunbeds. Tru Tan and Beauty is situated a stone’s throw away from Hampton Court Palace so why not make a day of it!

To enter visit our competition page at surreyoccasions.co.uk. Closing date 4th July. If you can’t wait till then you can book a session by calling: 020 8979 2999

Dance your way to fitness

OFFER

Do you dream of having the body of a dancer?

Barreworks is a beautiful exercise studio based in Richmond, totally dedicated to ballet and barre inspired fitness.

Prices start from just £12 for a Try Out class - with your second class free!

If you can’t make it to the studio, online Barreworks WorkOuts are a great alternative way to firm up and increase your body confidence as summer approaches.

The easy-to-follow video tutorials are low impact and high intensity, providing an all over workout to help you achieve the body of a dancer.

Try out offer!

Surrey Occasions readers can enjoy an online Barreworks Workout for free. barreworks.co.uk/online-workouts and use code SUMMERBARRE at checkout for one free download

SO Profile Karen Sugarman

Reaching for the Stars

Surrey Occasions editor, Claire Mahoney, speaks to Karen Sugarman, director of fundraising for the Surrey-based children’s hospice charity Shooting Star Chase.

24 surreyoccasions.co.uk

Having afternoon tea with Dame Joan Collins and being thrown a party by Simon Cowell. It’s the stuff that dreams are made of. But for Karen Sugarman it’s all in a day’s work and has a very vital purpose: that of raising the annual £10 million that keeps the Surrey-based charity Shooting Star Chase going.

Shooting Star Chase came about following the merger of two children’s hospices in 2011: Christopher’s in Guildford and Shooting Star House in Hampton. Today the charity provides support to over 700 families with children diagnosed with life-limiting conditions. The support can vary from in-hospice care, day care, end of life care to bereavement counselling or just allowing parents to have a rest.

Karen became director of fundraising in 2013, having worked for the charity for 14 years and recently celebrated 30 years in fundraising. Although she describes her role as, “the best job in the world,” a job in the charity sector wasn’t her intended career path. In fact she began her career working at the BBC. Then out of the blue her mother became seriously ill.

“She just said one day. I don’t feel well. So she went to the doctor who just told her that she probably had the flu and to go home and rest,” recalls Karen. It turned out that she had ovarian cancer. She was 49 years old.

“We were told that it would be best if my mum went into a hospice. But I was completely against the idea and wanted to care for her at home. But my mum said that she wanted to go and when we visited the place she said to me: ‘Isn’t it beautiful here.’ As soon as she arrived there she went into a coma straight away. It was as if she could finally let go. Seeing how she was looked after and how it helped her made me decide then and there that this is what I needed to do.”

Inner strength

By the end of that same month Karen was working as a volunteer for Cancer Research. This was in 1986 and Karen was still in her early 20s and there was further heartbreak to come. That same year her brother was involved in a car accident and her aunt passed away.

It wasn’t long, she says, before her father died of a broken heart.

She had to dig deep, but found she was far more resilient than she had perhaps thought. “You soon discover that you have some inner strength that helps you get through these things. But the main thing it taught me is that your life can change in the blink of an eye.”

What her experiences have also given her is a unique empathy and insight into the overwhelming emotions that affect all family members when a close family member’s life, particularly when its a child, is shortened by illness.

“Seeing families that have been where you have.

SO Profile Karen Sugarman

“I feel blessed to work here with so many amazing people. I don’t think I could ask for a better job” You know their pain and it’s a physical pain that you feel for them. But you have to be incredibly strong for them.

You have to be professional and put the families first. Of course, I’ve shed more than a few tears over the years.

You would have to be a robot not to. But this is about their grief not mine.”

Caring for a child with a serious illness is emotionally and physically draining. So both hospices provide families with the option of a short break, whereby the family can either stay with their child at the hospice or just have a night of rest by themselves. They also provide one of the largest hospice at home service in the country. Nurses and healthcare support staff will make regular visits to the children at home to allow the parents to carry out simple tasks such as popping to the shops, taking a nap or even having a bath.

Shooting Star Chase does indeed take care of the whole family, including brothers and sisters and grandparents. Dedicated siblings groups feature fun activities and opportunities for children to explore and share their feelings in a safe environment. In fact, David and Samantha Cameron’s children, Nancy and Elwen, received bereavement counselling at the hospice after the death of their brother Ivan in 2012. The care does not stop after a child has passed away. Hospice staff provide care and support for as long as the family need it.

Celebrity patrons

The ethos of the hospice is to try and help the children and their parents find as much joy as they can in the remaining time that they have left. And Karen has over the years managed to attract some very special patrons that have brought the children just that. Not least Simon Cowell. Karen met Simon in 2001 and he has been a strong supporter of the charity and its work ever since.

“Simon was made vice president of the charity in 2015 for his years of incredible support. He is so amazing with all

the families and regularly visits the hospices - he doesn’t make a big fanfare about it either. He does so much for us.”

Other big name supporters and patrons include, singer Tony Hadley (Vice President), TV presenter Phillip Schofield and singer and radio presenter Michael Ball.

“Michael did a concert for us a few years ago at Feltonfleet School and we raised £75,000 just in one night.”

Then there is the actress, Dame Joan Collins who regularly invites families to her home for afternoon tea and recently accompanied Karen to visit a child when she was undergoing an operation in hospital. All this demonstrates that the charity’s patrons do get involved on a deeply personal level.

Home life

When she is not at her offices in Weybridge, those local to the area will probably catch Karen out on one of her daily power walks or driving around in the white Mitsubishi bearing the Shooting Star Chase branding.

“You can’t really miss me,” laughs Karen. Her home is in Cobham. She moved there 12 years ago. “Once you have lived there you never want to leave.” She enjoys spending time in Bronte’s artisan cafe, or enjoying some me time in Blushers Hair Salon or the Nail Spa. But she sees no big dividing line between her work and her private life. “Sometimes there is no real difference.

Even if I go out to dinner with friends there will always be someone there who wants to know more about the charity. I feel blessed to work here with so many amazing people. I don’t think I could ask for a better job.” It doesn’t look like the charity could ask for a better person to do that job either.

For more information about Shooting Star Chase and how you can donate or volunteer, visit the website at: shootingstarchase.org.uk

@SurreyOccasions 25

SO Beauty

Holiday

Into the blue

Sun shield

Spray away

A close shave

Transport yourself poolside with these aqua hues from Nailberry’s La Piscine Edit. Take your pick from pale blues like Hope or Baby Blue, or go green with the iridescent Glamazon for instant ontrend nails. £14.50, from Harvey Nichols, Selfridges and nailberry.co.uk

Give your skin a photoready finish with Murad’s limited edition Invisiblur Perfecting Shield SPF 30.

This multi-benefit formula features invisible sunscreen technology to protect all skin tones and types.

It also hydrates, smooths and blurs for a soft-focus finish. £69.50 with £10.00 donated to The Princes Trust.

Keep your skin moisturised with these new fuss-free spray moisturisers from sensitive skin experts E45.

They will deliver a 24-hour hydration hit to quench thirsty skin in seconds.

Suitable for eczema-prone and dry skin conditions. £5.00 for 200ml.

Wave good-bye to shave rash and post-shave bumps with this duo of protective and reparative shaving formulas. Pear Soufflé coats the skin before you shave whilst The Cool Fix cools and soothes it afterwards. Shaveworks Get Set Duo, £10.00 from thegroomingclinic.com

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SO Beauty

hit list Our pick of the latest beauty buys to get you beach-ready in no time

Tantastic

Hot hair

Effortless exfoliation

Treat your feet

Need a tan in a hurry?

Then your quick fix has to be the new Sienna X HIT Express Tan. This lightweight formula will give you a natural, evenlooking colour in just 60 minutes. £24.95 from sienna-x.co.uk

These Andrew Barton brushes have Argan oil locked into the bristles, which is then released every time you brush.

Perfect for taming those seaside tresses. Price: £8.00 for the paddle brush and £7.00 for the round brush. Available exclusively from Asda.

Prep your skin to perfection with these new exfoliation brushes for Braun’s Silk-épil 9 Skin Spa Wet & Dry epilator. Creating over 3,000 micro-vibrations a minute, the brushes will slough away dead skin in seconds, leaving you more time to pack your suitcase £179.99 from Amazon and Argos.

This foot-friendly duo from 7th Heaven will help get your feet fit for summer. First buff away hard skin with the peppermint infused pumice, pat dry and then rub in the Shea and Aloe Vera-based foot butter and you are good to go. £1.00

@SurreyOccasions 27

SO Spa

SO Review

Macdonald Frimley Hall Hotel and Spa Fancy some well-earned me time? Then head no further than the leafy village of Frimley to the 4-star The Macdonald Frimley Hall Hotel and Spa Frimley Hall is quite a discovery.

Situated at the end of a quiet residential street in this leafy part of Surrey, this imposing listed manor house is one of the area’s best. Even though Frimley Hall is clearly a popular hotel for weddings and events – it has lost none of its historic charm.

The house itself has a very Arts and Crafts feel and in this sense still is very much of its time. A wonderful pale purple Wysteria winds its way invitingly around the stone entrance porch. As you step inside you are immediately aware that the Frimley Hall experience, although part of the Macdonald Hotels group, is a world away from the your typical corporate chain hotel. With the fire burning in the hall and a great galleried oak staircase – you feel like you are entering someone’s home. And that’s exactly was Frimley Hall was until it became a hotel in the late 1940s. It was built by the Fowler family in the late 1800s before being passed on to the Wright family – famous even today for Wright’s Coal Tar Soap. The rooms are traditional even in the more modern areas of the building. The best rooms however are at the front of the house overlooking the grounds.

The spa and fitness facilities are housed in a separate building. But there is always something enjoyable about wandering out into the fresh air in a white robe and slippers. There are five treatment rooms, which not surprisingly are booked up well in advance, particularly given the hotel’s popularity as a wedding venue. The spa uses only Elemis products and offers the full range of facials and body treatments. Afterwards you can wander down the lantern-lit corridor to take it easy in the relaxation room.

A good-sized pool and a gym (on two-floors) are also available should you feel like being a little more active.

But on this occasion, the appeal of sitting in the sun in the restful gardens was too much. Dinner in the award-winning Linden restaurant is also included on this Rejuvenate Spa Package. Chef Michael Ball is

the creative force behind the food, all of which is sourced either locally or from reputed British suppliers. Not surprisingly it has been awarded two AA Rosettes. The modern British menu combines seasonal favourites with fabulous flavour combinations and an impressive selection of wines.

We retired to bed rested and woke to take a quick dip in the pool before enjoying some good coffee and an impressive breakfast selection. All in all a perfect break from routine.

The Rejuvenate Spa Package includes overnight accommodation, breakfast, dinner and a choice of one 30 minute treatments in the spa, including Elemis Deep Tissue Back Massage, Elemis Taster Facial, Lime & Ginger Salt Glow, Pro Collagen Hand & Nail Treatment or Sole Delight Grooming for Feet.

Prices from £109 per person. To book visit: macdonaldhotels.co.uk

Spa App We have apps for everything these days so it’s no surprise that you can now summon your spa and beauty needs at the tap of your smart phone. Secret Spa is a new luxury beauty app that does just that.

Don’t fancy going to the salon, planning a girls night in, or heading out for a special occasion? Secret Spa has the answer with a range of treatments spanning from Swedish massages, to express-manicures.

Simply download the app, choose your treatment, put in your location and time

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(with three hours notice) and a therapist who covers your area will accept the booking and come to you; all for the same price as what you’d pay in a salon.

Find out more at: @secretspauk @secretspauk Secretspauk or visit the website at secretspa.co.uk

Plus - SkinGym Energising Light Technology (ELT) is now available for the first time in Surrey at Lisa’s The SkinGym involves Energising Light Technology (ELT) therapy which rejuvenates and revitalises skin in a non-invasive way – there are no lasers, UV, injections or surgery. The light encourages your skin to produce its own collagen, hydration and elastin, helping to reduce the appearance of bags, wrinkles, age spots, puffy eyes and fine lines. Perfect for clients concerned with wrinkles, broken capillaries, sensitive skin, dull or uneven skin and skin problems such as acne and psoriasis. In just one treatment you will notice increased hydration and a revitalised and more radiant appearance. SkinGym treatments start at £17.50 per session.

competition

WIN!

A Dynamic Spa day for two at Grayshott Spa The team at the award-winning Grayshott Spa are offering SO readers the chance to win a Dynamic Spa Day for two worth £240.

Set in 47 acres of gardens and grounds, adjoining 700 acres of stunning NT countryside, Grayshott is only one hour’s drive from London. Whether you want to address health problems, de-stress, get fit or simply ‘get away from it all’ Grayshott offers a warm, friendly atmosphere combined with trusted expertise.

Dynamic Spa Day terms & conditions Available Monday – Thursday (not including Bank holidays) Valid for six months from date of notification The Spa is adults only 18+ Subject to availability For more information visit:grayshottspa.com

Your day will include full use of the spa facilities, a three-course buffet lunch and 55 minutes of body composition analysis and a personal training session

To enter visit: surreyoccasions.co.uk and click on the link to the competitions page Entries close on 4th July 2016

SO Travel

Authentic Algarve Amanda Fisher takes us off the beaten track to explore the rich and varied landscape of this far-flung corner of the Iberian Peninsular

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SO Travel

The Algarve region has always found special favour with UK visitors, many falling for its charms so deeply that they have been tempted to put down roots, snapping up retirement properties and holiday homes throughout the region.

The result has been a boom in housing and leisure developments built across the Algarve, the southernmost region of mainland Portugal, a modest 50km wide, 155km long strip of land with one foot in Spain in the east, the other in the Atlantic Ocean in the west, its toes dipping the Mediterranean Sea in the south.

Despite the building bonanza, the Algarve has managed to retain the wild, open, untamed land- and sea-scapes that attract thousands of visitors to this far-flung corner of the Iberian Peninsular every year.

Who could fail to be impressed by mile upon mile of wide, unspoilt beaches, isolated coves, scalloped bays and secret grottos. Inland from the scrunchy golden sands and turquoise seas, the coastal plain with its lighthouses standing sentinel gives way to a swathe of native pine- and cork oak-covered hills, rolling mountain ranges and lush river valleys. Dotted everywhere in between are sprinklings of ancient cities, scatterings of traditional towns and villages with their bright whitewashed terracotta-tiled villas, shaded squares, bell-towered churches, cobbled streets and thriving markets.

You can read, rest and relax, or throw yourself into learning new skills - from how to handle a horse to cooking country cuisine. Actually you can do both in one location via horsesinthesun.com and golearntocook.com thanks to the equestrian and culinary courses expertly combined at New Forest Lodge, a family-run farm a short carriage-ride from the cosmopolitan coastal city of Lagos.

Those who like a round of golf will also be spoilt for choice. The Algarve’s 43 nineand 18-hole layouts are playable all year round thanks to their quality and diversity.

When checking out courses off the beaten track, the Tavira end of the coast is a great option - with less-crowded courses at Benamor, Quinta do Vale and Castro Marim offering a great game in typical Algarvian countryside.

This June marks the 50th anniversary of golf in the Algarve and all of the its top courses will feature specially-commissioned commemorative golden tee to celebrate.

Each visiting golfer will be invited to play from the new golden tees, then register their details on a dedicated website for an opportunity to win 50 green fees. Full details at visitgolfalgarve.com If you yearn for the open road, hike or bike the extensive network of scenic routes that criss-cross the countryside. Pedal or trek along the rugged coastline to reach the towering 100-metre-high cliffs of Cabo da São Vicente (Cape St Vincent), the southwestern-most point of continental Europe, and discover the history, culture, and architecture of Phoenician, Moorish, Roman and Arab invaders whose influences can still be seen in many ancient towns and cities across the Algarve, alongside its splendid cathedrals, enchanting castles and spectacular lighthouses.

Don’t miss a quick dip beneath the Pego do Inferno, the Algarve’s most beautiful waterfall, or the breathtaking panoramic views from the 902-metre-high Fóia peak, highest point of the Serra de Monchique, the Algarve’s mountain range, above the picturesque spa town of Caldas de Monchique, which boasts the best brews of medronho, a fiery local liqueur. Find out more at macsadventure.com If you have the stamina, consider a religious pilgrimage. A journey undertaken to venerate the mortal remains of Saint James the Greater in Santiago de Compostela (St James of the Field of Stars) in Spain is one of the oldest forms of tourism, having flourished in Europe for more than 1,000 years. Hundreds of pilgrim routes lead to the city of Santiago from all over the world, but one of the oldest follows a 952km path that starts at St James’s church in Tavira on the eastern coastal strip of the Algarve. Following this ancient route is a wonderful way to

experience the cultural, archaeological and rural delights of Southern Portugal, walking or cycling the 34 marked stages north from the coast through glorious countryside, passing tiny hamlets, historic manors and ancient monuments.

For lovers of all things Gothic, Faro’s magnificent 13th century Sé (cathedral) has them in spades: awesome architecture, amazing atmosphere and extraordinary artifacts; a fairytale tower you can climb for superb sea views across the walled town, a small museum full of bejewelled chalices, priestly vestments and grisly relics - including both forearms of St Boniface - and an ornate 18th-century shrine built entirely of bones.

With its sub-tropical climate, the Algarve is also rich in wildlife - plants, animals, insects and amphibians. From Vila Real de Santo Antonio in the east, to the Sagres Peninsula at the south-western extremity of the country, the Algarve coastal plain provides quality birdwatching throughout the year. More than 400 species of native and migrating birds are drawn to its shores to feed, breed and overwinter.

If you prefer to catch a wave and experience the high octane water sports that make the most of flat sands and onshore breezes along the Algarve’s long shoreline you can kite-, wind- and sea surf; wakeboard, waterski and coasteer (swim/ jump/climb); take a speedboat or yacht trip to dolphin- and shark-watch; explore coast and caves by Kayak, paddleboard, pedalo or canoe; learn to sea fish, snorkel and scuba dive.

The more adventurous can get a bird’s-eye view over land and sea from a hot-air balloon, helicopter or microlight, before basking with a glass of bubbly deckside prior to dining aboard a luxury 5-star offshore cruiser (boatcharteralgarve. com/en) - now that’s what I call a holiday.

For more information visitalgarve.pt

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SO Review

Style and substance at the Conrad Algarve Set on the dramatic Atlantic coastline in the southernmost region of Portugal, the breathtaking Conrad Algarve hotel is located just a short distance from some of the most glorious world-class golf courses, stunning sandy beaches and the idyllic scenery of Ria Formosa Natural Park.

Whether you choose the deluxe, the grand deluxe rooms or the suite with pool view, you will not be disappointed by the contemporary-style decor and sumptuous furnishings, luxury bath products adorning your marble bathroom, private balcony and modern entertainment system.

If you are feeling particularly lavish, the garden suite with private pool boasts its own private entrance, roof garden, butler and bar.

The Conrad Spa on-site is a haven of relaxation. Warm, comforting and inviting, the spa offers a retreat from the rest of the world, with its own pool, sauna, steam room and relaxation area. Treatments range from refreshing facials combining latest technologies with expertly applied techniques to relaxing massages leaving you feeling calm and rejuvenated. Your treatment is tailored to suit you, right down to the use of your preferred aroma oils.

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The jewel in the hotel’s crown has to be the gastronomic experience that is Gusto by Heinz Beck. Beck has become a legend in gastronomic circles due to his tenure at La Pergola - the 3 Michelin-starred restaurant at Waldorf Astoria Rome Cavalieri, one of the top gastronomic destinations in the world.

The menu is based on the finest local and international ingredients. The exquisite attention to detail extends to the house-made bread and dips served at each table.

Surrey Occasions recommends the seven-course tasting menu featuring stunning dishes such as white asparagus on topinambur cream, strawberry coulis and balsamic vinegar cubes; Burrata toretillini with green peas foam, artichokes and bottarga; and a curious dish to provoke all of your senses, entitled ‘The Sea’. Each course is accompanied by an alternative wine, many from Portugal, expertly chosen and presented to you by the sommelier.

The Conrad Algarve offers a blend of refined and casual dining experiences to suit your mood.

You can indulge in extraordinary Mediterranean cuisine and Portuguese specialities at Louro with indoor and outdoor seating options. Alternatively, you may wish to treat yourself to some

fresh fruit, an ice cream or a cocktail, at Sereno pool deck with views overlooking the pool and surrounding area.

If you’re feeling sporty, take advantage of the health club and enjoy a revitalising work out, play a game of tennis at one of the courts within the grounds or work on your handicap in the golf simulation area.

If it’s a real game of golf that you crave, or you just want to feel the warm sand under your feet, you can take the hotel’s free shuttle service to the beach or to the golf courses nearby.

If it’s just relaxation that you’re after, then look no further than the poolside. Whether you choose a spot of sunbathing on a recliner by the infinity pool or a snooze in the shade on your own private four-poster cabana, you can rest safe in the knowledge that there is a cushion; a towel; a snack or a thirst-quenching drink ready and waiting for you at the wave of a hand.

Nightly rates for The Conrad Algarve start from €455/£349 per night. For more information and to book visit: conradalgarve.com Direct flights to Faro operate from London Gatwick, Heathrow and Stansted Airports with British Airways, EasyJet, Ryanair and Monarch, Norwegian.com and Ryanair.

AWARD WINNING GIN FROM THE SILENT POOL IN SURREY Open seven days a week, from 10:00am to 4:00pm. For details and to order online, visit the website.

www.silentpooldistillers.com

SO Food & Drink

Spice sensation Indian cookery expert and internet success Hari Ghotra tells journalist Olivia Greenway about her cookery roots, being headhunted and loving Redhill

Hari Ghotra is something of a human dynamo. Headhunted as the new executive chef for Tamarind Kitchen – due to open in Covent Garden in September – she got the job through setting up and running a successful online Indian recipe website. Tamarind Kitchen is an offshoot of the Michelin-starred Tamarind restaurant, the first Indian restaurant in the world to win the coveted star.

Speaking from her Redhill home, the mother of two primary school children has been spending the past few months in the Tamarind restaurant preparing menus and implementing her ideas. A self taught home cook, to the casual observer she may not appear an obvious choice for the role. But since she has been cooking for nearly all of her 39 years, she probably has more kitchen experience than even a seasoned traditionally trained chef.

Hari admits she is very driven and is convinced her father instilled her work ethic. He came with his young wife from a poor part of India to make a better life for his family in his new home of Wolverhampton.

Uneducated and unable to read or write, his aim in life was to get his children and his younger brothers educated, so they would have more opportunities than he had. “It was hard for them at first in this strange land. People complained to my mother about the smell of cooking. But ten or fifteen years later, the same neighbours were coming around asking her to show them how to make a curry!”

Hari has always cooked, just like her mother and her mother before her. “It’s what we do in our Asian culture. From morning to night, there is always food on the go.” Hari explained that girls start to cook from a young age. “I can remember dragging up a stool and stirring a big pot on the stove. I think I was five.”

After a science degree from Bath University, she secured a job at Unilever. Gaining a masters in marketing, she then joined the marketing team at Tesco at their head office.

Working happily there for twelve years – and moving from department to department as is company policy – Hari learned about business, online marketing, publishing and much more. After she had her children, she went part-time for a while, but at the back of her mind was the plan to set

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SO Food & Drink

Indian summer up her own business involving Indian food. One Christmas, her husband bought her a laptop and she set up a website offering cookery classes locally. She told her friends about it at the school gate, “And before I knew it, I was swamped. All my weekends and evenings were taken up. My cookery classes were really successful, but I had no idea how to grow the business.”

She got talking to a friend, Rob Pierre who runs Jellyfish in Reigate, a digital marketing agency. Originally her idea was to franchise her cooking classes but he pointed out to Hari that the most valuable asset in her business was her.

Coincidentally, the agency was looking for a case study to test all their marketing arms at once – website, photography, SEO, blog, video, with measurable analytics – and asked Hari to trial their approach starting with a video of one of her cookery classes. She saw this as a fantastic opportunity and gave up her Tesco job. Together with Jellyfish, in 2013 she set up a new website with professional videos and all the back-up support that an agency can provide.

A YouTube channel followed that now has almost 200 videos. Very quickly, Hari gained a following. Her friendly open style, infectious enthusiasm for her cooking, and connection with her audience (she answers all queries herself) means that some videos have been watched by over 105,000 people. “Right from the start, we wanted to build an audience, a brand. I’m glad to say it worked and in fact that’s how Peter (Tamarind chef) found me.”

The next step was to monetise. Hari has come up with the great idea of curry kits. Forget that stale powder that’s been skulking in the back of your cupboard for months. Hari’s idea is to have the fresh whole spices, in the quantities you need for one meal. All the cook needs is a pestle and mortar. To help her, husband Jeremy joined the business, looking after the procurement side.

What does Hari think about the average modern home cook? “I’m flabbergasted at how the skill of home cooking is dying. People spend a fortune on make up and fashion and invest a lot of time on those things but don’t seem to appreciate how important food is for their health and emotional well being.”

In her small way, Hari is hoping to put that right, with her simple, easy-to-follow recipes that burst with flavour – and actually work. Hari still finds time to teach cookery – once a week from home as well as at local cookery schools such as Abinger Cookery School in Dorking.

Independent shops

Hari has a great enthusiasm for her local area. “I’ve lived here for ten years and Redhill is brilliant for the London commute. It might not be pretty but it has all the shops I need for every day and I like the farmers’ market and the occasional French market.” Nearby, leafy Reigate with its village feel is also a popular haunt. Priory Park is a frequent destination for walking with her family. “There are so many independents. I love Roberts & Edwards, the butcher’s. They do unusual meats like mutton; I go there a lot. Urban 9 is a smart cocktail bar. Top restaurants for me are Clove (Indian) and La Barbe (French). I also like Gedo clothes shop in the High Street. I get my artisan bread from Chalk Hills Bakery and Cullenders deli do nice sandwiches.”

Best of all though is Home Cottage in Redhill. “We visit perhaps once or twice a week. It’s a great place to relax with a drink and a catch up.”

The thought of Hari ever relaxing is a bit hard to imagine – listening to her story, I think being busy is how she thrives. harighotra.co.uk @HariGhotra The curry kits may be bought online from £3.50

Hari shares three simple recipes with Surrey Occasions that are perfect for summer dining

Lamb kebabs Lamb kebabs are the first thing that my daughter learned to cook all by herself at five years old and they are still her favourite.This kebab is so versatile that you can have it as a starter or as a quick easy snack. It’s even great to cook on the BBQ and makes a really tasty alternative to the humble sausage.

Ingredients 500g minced lamb 1 medium onion, very finely diced 4 cloves garlic, very finely chopped 1 tbsp ginger, grated 1 tsp salt 1 green chilli, finely chopped ½ tsp red chilli powder (optional) 2 tsp cumin seeds, crushed 2 tsp garam masala 1 tsp of dried fenugreek leaves (kasoori methi) Handful coriander, finely chopped 1 tsp oil in a small dish Method Heat the grill and line the grill pan with foil and place a wire rack on top. Place the lamb mince in a large bowl and add all the other ingredients and mix together using your hands to ensure all the spices are evenly distributed. Wash hands and rub them with a little oil. This helps to shape the kebabs and stops the mixture sticking to your hands.

Take a small amount of the mixture and mould into small sausage shapes about 10cm long and 3cm thick. Don’t make them too thin. Repeat with the rest of the meat keeping the kebabs the same size smoothing out any cracks. Place the kebabs on the rack and place under the grill and cook for 15 minutes. Turn the kebabs over so they brown evenly and leave to cook for a further 10-15 minutes.

@SurreyOccasions 35

SO Food & Drink

Summer greens

Lemon Rice

There is nothing like fresh summer greens to accompany an Indian dish both because it tastes amazing but also because it makes you feel healthy. There is something very special about that leafiness and the wonderful shades of green that just make you feel great from the inside out.

This is a wonderful dish to have in the sunshine as a rice salad that not only tastes great, but it looks like summer in a bowl.

Ingredients 1 tbsp butter, 1 tsp cumin seeds, ½ tsp mustard seeds 4 green chillies, finely chopped 4cm piece root ginger ½ tsp turmeric 500g summer greens, shredded 100g peas / blanched broad beans 1 lemon 2 tbsp coconut, grated 1 tsp garam masala Method Heat the butter in a large non-stick pan or wok, sizzle the cumin and mustard seeds until fragrant, then add the chilli, ginger and turmeric. Fry until aromatic, then add the greens, a pinch of salt, a splash of water and the peas or broad beans. Cook for 4-5 mins until the greens have wilted. Add a squeeze of lemon juice, garam masala and the coconut, then toss everything together to serve.

FREE

Come and sample some exceptional Portuguese wine during a special tasting at Cellar Magneval Boutique de Vins & Épicerie Fine in Ripley

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Ingredients 4 tbsp vegetable oil or 2 tbsp coconut oil 1 tsp mustard seeds 7-10 curry leaves 3 green chillies 1 tsp salt ½ tsp turmeric 2 tbsp peanuts or cashew nuts 2 lemons 200g Tilda Basmati rice Method Wash the rice until the water runs clear. In a wide based pan add the washed rice, pour in 500ml of water (twice the amount of water to rice). Bring the water to a rolling boil, reduce the heat to the lowest setting and place the lid on the pan. Leave to cook for 12 minutes.

Remove from the heat, very gently fork through it and leave to cool.

In a separate pan heat the oil and add the mustard seeds. As they begin to splutter add the peanuts or cashews and fry to a golden brown colour. Add the turmeric powder, the curry leaves, green chillies and salt - fry for a minute. Remove from the heat and stir into the rice. Squeeze in the juice from the lemon and mix through carefully until all the rice is beautifully bright yellow.

Free wine tasting If you ask any wine trade professional to list the countries or wine regions of the world which most excite them at this moment, then you would be likely to hear Portugal mentioned. It has over a hundred indigenous varieties of vines and the wine industry is still dominated by lots of small producers.

Cellar Magneval Boutique de Vins & Épicerie Fine in Ripley have recently

taken on three wonderful new wines from the country, including two whites - Aphros Loureiro 2014 (£15.90) and Vale da Capucha Alvarinho 2012 (£17.70) and a red, The Vegia Vinho Tinto 2011 from Casa de Cello (£13.50), all of which you’ll be able to try at a special Portuguese wine tasting on the 11th June.

For more info call: 01483 730407.

Discover timelessly elegant products that will transform your home.

Specialists in bespoke windows, doors, orangeries, cutting edge glass, timber and hybrid products.

Factory & Showroom Pontefract, West Yorkshire t: 0333 323 9601

w: www.totali.uk.com

e: info@totali.uk.com

SO Homes

Bringing the Great Outdoors, indoors

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SO Homes

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Even in summer, the sun doesn’t always shine on our temperate shores. But with clever design you can add some natural inspiration to your home whatever the weather

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Bamboozling Bamboo

The Mademoiselle Pho lampshade is a stunning example of the timehonoured Vietnamese craft of bamboo weaving – and you can use it both indoors and outdoors.

Price: £124 and £140, depending on size • Stockist: Caravane • caravane.fr/en/ 2

Palm spring

Enjoy some fun and flirty al fresco dining with tableware featuring the season’s hottest palm print with this 16-piece dinnerware set.

Price: £119.99 • Stockist: Wayfair • wayfair.co.uk 3

Looming lovely

Perfect for the conservatory or sun room, the Lloyd Loom Lullington Sofa is handcrafted by Lloyd Loom in wicker and comes with cushions made from fabric designed by Christian Lacroix.

Price: £1,249 • Stockist: Brewers Home • brewershome.co.uk 4

Taste of the Tropics

Splash some rainforest colour on your sofa with this tropical birds scatter cushion.

Price: £19.99 • Stockist: Wayfair • wayfair.co.uk 5

Morning glory

Paper your bedroom with Dawn Chorus Mineral Blue wallpaper from Sanderson, and every day you’ll wake up to the glorious avian sight of finches perched on branches.

Price: £41 a roll • Stockist: Brewers Home • brewershome.co.uk 6

Room with a view

Forget the French window, the bifold is the glass door of the future which, thanks to its concertina design, opens fully. And when closed, the bifold provides big views of the garden effectively transforming it into an outside room that flows from your home’s interior.

Prices: from £1,100 sqm • Stockist: Cantifix • cantifix.co.uk • Architect: dyergrimesarchitects.com

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Climbing the walls

You’ve probably seen vertical gardens gracing glamorous retail spaces and swanky offices. But green walls can grow in homes too. And you don’t need to limit your planting scheme to grass and flowers: fruit and herbs will also blossom beautifully in your living room.

Prices: contact the company as prices vary hugely depending on the scheme • ansgroupglobal.com 8

Cool hang out

This Monaco Cocoon Hanging Chair is made from all-weather wicker – so, come rain or shine, hang out in your garden in style.

Price: £249.99 • Stockist: Squire’s Garden Centres • squiresgardencentres.co.uk 8

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SO Homes

House

proud

with Anthea Turner

Why settle for soggy sandwiches and stale tea when you can enjoy a picnic with style.

Anthea Turner explains how What could be nicer than relaxing with friends or family enjoying a stylish but simple meal at a favourite country location, or local park, a concert, or a day at the races? Yes picnics do need a little planning, but with a bit of effort they can become special occasions.

Presentation is key Make it special and use china plates and cups, ‘real’ glasses and proper cutlery.

They’re so much nicer than throw-away paper plates. When you pack them, place napkins in between each one.

This will protect the plates and mean that everyone has a napkin when you hand them out. Use baskets for bread, crisps, savoury nibbles and fruit. Take a white table cloth and napkins. I love using Kilner jars for picnics. They come in a variety of sizes and are perfect for everything from the pickles to the biscuits and sweets. But they are weighty, so you’ll need to use your car as a ‘larder’ or

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use lighter alternatives if you have to carry your picnic.

Setting the scene If you plan to have your picnic on the grass, take along a blanket to put under the table cloth and provide a firmer and cleaner base. Remember blankets to sit on and chairs if you have any elderly guests. You don’t need expensive wickers hampers to carry your picnic equipment – a sturdy cardboard box will do. But a cooler box or a sturdy cooler bag is essential to keep food cold, fresh and uncrushed.

Food for thought Whether you are serving an array of savoury and sweet goodies or simply some crusty bread, a selection of cheeses and fruit – every picnic can be special. For less mess and easier preparation - make salads with items that can be eaten individually

– leaves of little gem lettuces, sprigs of lamb’s lettuce, radishes, cherry tomatoes pepper strips, chicory, cucumber batons and trimmed sugar-snap peas. Provide a mayonnaise for dipping and a classic French dressing separately. Potato salads and rice salads travel well, as does homemade coleslaw. Make sandwiches more interesting by wrapping them in greaseproof paper. Then tie with string and attach a parcel label to them saying what they are or who they are for.

Child-friendly Children love a sense of occasion, so let children help with the preparation or give children their own picnic by packing the food into a gift bag or box.

For drinks – serve a kids cooler. by combining a carton of orange juice with a carton of raspberry juice and top up with water. Serve with a few grapes or orange and cucumber slices over the rim of the glasses.

SO Homes

Anthea’s top Surrey sites for a summer picnic Winkworth Arboretum “I find this place very calming and it has numerous spots for lovely picnics, either in the woods or beside one of the lakes. It has a fascinating history behind it with over 1000 trees and shrubs, some of them very rare. Plus if you run out of supplies there is a lovely tea shop onsite where you could grab a slice of lovely homemade lemon drizzle cake.

A perfect place for all the family. nationaltrust.org.uk/winkwortharboretum

The Green in Richmond You don’t have to venture into the countryside for a good picnic. Your local green can also provide a superb base for a summer get-together. I live in Richmond where we are lucky to have a fabulous green that is well used by the

local residents. What better way to while away an afternoon than watching the cricket and eating cucumber sandwiches? There is also fabulous Italian ice-cream shop, Gelataria Danieli nearby to keep the children among you happy. gelateriadanieli.com

Esher Common There is a wonderful network of bridle paths and footpaths around Esher Commons, where I have spent many enjoyable days riding my horse Caramelo. Esher Common itself is a nature reserve with lots of lovely lakes and ponds to sit by the side of in summer. My favourite spot is Black Pond which used to supply water to the nearby Claremont Landscape Garden or you could climb to Round Hill. elmbridge.gov.uk/countryside”

SO Sport Anne Dickins

Road to

Rio

When Oxted resident Anne Dickins volunteered to work as a physiotherapist at the London 2012 Olympics, she never dreamt that it would lead to a place on the new GB Paracanoe squad. At Rio 2016 canoeing will be included as a Paralympic sport for the first time. Words and pictures by Gretta Schifano When she was in her 20s Anne Dickins broke her back resulting in limited sensation and reduced strength on one side of her lower body. For many people this would put a stop to any serious sporting activity. But not Ann. She went on to become an endurance cyclist, competing in 24-hour mountain bike races. At one point she was the 4th fastest in the world, until a further injury meant that she could no longer race.

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SO Sport Anne Dickins

In 2012 while she was volunteering at the London Olympics, a fellow Games Maker, GB paracanoe coach Colin Radmore, suggested that she try out for the squad. Anne, now 49, suffers from seasickness and had never tried kayaking or canoeing, but she went along to the National Water Sports Centre in Nottingham for a trial.

She was told that she had potential, but needed to learn to paddle a boat. Coaches Phil and Claire Gunney at Wey Kayak Club in Guildford volunteered to help her.

Paracanoe involves paddling a kayak in a straight line on flat water for 200 metres, and the fastest finisher is the winner. Anne says that one of her biggest challenges as a paracanoeist has been the transition from an endurance athlete to a sprint athlete. Her races now last 40 or 50 seconds, and every single millisecond counts.

At the trials, seven weeks after meeting Colin Radmore, Anne, who is mother to two teenagers, achieved the fastest time of the women who were competing. She had a place in the team, and soon started winning medals.

Anne says: “My fifth race ever was the 2013 European Championships and, to my absolute shock, I got a gold medal.

Later that year I went to the World Championships and got a silver medal. In 2014 I got gold at the Euros, gold at the Worlds and broke the World Record. In 2015 I got gold at the Euros and silver at the World Championships.”

Anne’s silver medal at the 2015 World Championships means that the team have a quota place for Rio 2016. The final two selection races are in June, and Anne has to win one of those races in order to compete for the team at the Paralympics. She says that in every sport the person who wins a medal is the tip of the iceberg, because so many other people have helped them to reach that point.

Anne still trains at Wey Kayak Club twice a week with her volunteer coaches. She says: “The thing that I really like about Wey is that you have people training in their GB kits along with beginners in buoyancy aids. It’s open to absolutely anybody.

It doesn’t matter what age you are - kayaking is all about what you can do. It’s a really inclusive sport.”

She also trains at Eton Dorney, which was used for London 2012 events, as well as at her local community gym, Tandridge Leisure Centre in Oxted. She says that the Tandridge Leisure Centre team are very supportive: “I really enjoy training there.

“There’s a sport out there for everyone, regardless of age, fitness or ability.”

It’s lovely training with my local community and the facilities are really good.”

Titsey Rotary Club also support Anne - they raised money through local community events to buy her some new paddles.

Anne has lived in Surrey since 2001, and says that she loves Oxted: “It’s a small community town but it’s got amazing facilities, and you can get to London really quickly if you want to. You can also escape to the countryside just by walking out of your front door.

Surrey is the most amazing place, it’s got something for everybody.

I love paddling on the River Wey, where I train, and walking in the beautiful woods near where we live.”

If she gets to Rio 2016, Anne says that a medal would be ‘the icing on the cake’. After Rio, her goal is to continue to learn to paddle a boat to the best of her ability, and while she’s still improving she will carry on. What she’s really looking forward to though is planning her wedding - her partner Simon proposed to her last year.

I ask Anne what inspires her. She says: “I’m inspired simply by inspiring other people. I really hope that my journey and achievements can inspire all people - not just sporty people - to realise that what you believe to be impossible probably isn’t. There were so many reasons why I shouldn’t have been able to get to where I am now. I hope that other people will be able to understand the possibilities of what they can achieve. And there’s sport out there for everyone, regardless of age, fitness or ability.”

credit: Balint Vekassy

@SurreyOccasions 43

SO Vintage

Antique

eye

with James Braxton

Tips for buyers

Get up early, arrive 30 minutes before the start time, and have a cup of tea, check out the look of the cars and vans. Are their boots bulging with antiques?

Don’t worry about being in the first wave of buyers, they are the local dealers questioning and pouring over boxes, as sellers are still unpacking their cars and vans. As often sellers decant the lesser goods first, waiting for the pouring hands to move on, before they bring out the more valuable goods, as naturally they require a greater level of supervision and care.

Once the car boot has settled down, go back to the pitches you thought had the goods for you, as they may have unpacked more items.

Remember, there is no fixed price for secondhand goods, values are given because the seller may have sold something similar, or the price reflects what the seller paid for the item. Negotiate, remember the longer it’s for sale, the less confidence the seller will have in its price. Lots of people have walked past it, some have handled it, but nobody has bought it!

A boot fair is a primary source of antiques, ie the bottom of the pyramid, and as goods rise up the pyramid, so does their price. So seize the price at the boot fair. As it moves through every pair of hands the price will

44 surreyoccasions.co.uk

The car boot season is upon us. Antiques expert James Braxton explains why they can be one of the best places to pick up a bargain

rise, until it’s sold to a private buyer or a dealer takes a loss, because he is unable to pass it on.

Two last tips for car boot buyers: always buy in bulk, as a house clearer is always keen to make space on his/her van, and always look in the bottom of boxes!

Tips for sellers

Firstly, choose the right car boot sale, and then pray for good weather. Blessed is the ‘Booter’ in the sunshine, woe is ‘they-inthe-rain’. Remember a folding table, pack the car, and the earlier you arrive on site, the more buyers you will see. There are 4 phases of selling at a car boot sale: First phase is your regular local dealers.

Second phase are your bargain hunters.

Third phase comprises your 8 o’clock foragers.

And the fourth phase and final phase is when you make another £100 by being slow to pack away.

When it comes to pricing - start high, and don’t let your buyer walk away. After all, the buyer didn’t know they wanted it until they saw it on your stand. So be gentle, the buyer wants it, the item owes you little, all you need is the sale and don’t let them walk away.

Regular car boots in Surrey Hook Road Arena Car Boot Chessington Rd, Hook Rd, Epsom KT19 8QG Sunday And Bank Holiday Mondays from March to November More info: Hookcarbootsale.com Horley Car Boot Sale Central Car Park, Consort Way East Horley Every Sunday from February to December More info: Horleycarboot.com Rusper Car Boot Sale Cophatch Farm, Newdigate Road, Rusper, RH124RR Every Sunday More info: ruspercarbootsale.co.uk Shepperton Car Boot Every Saturday from 21 May New Road, Shepperton Middlesex TW17 0QQ www.sheppertoncarboot.co.uk Nuthill Fruit Farm Car Boot Three miles North of Guildford on southbound A3 GU23 7LWA3 Every Sunday April till October More info: nuthillcarbootsale.co.uk Cranleigh Lions Boot Sale Market Square, Village Way Car Park, Cranleigh, GU6 8AF Sundays July-September More info:cranleighlions.org/carbootsales Dorking Car Boot Dorking railway station, Station Approach, Dorking, RH4 1TF Every Sunday, open all year round Tel: 07807 609283

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SO Events

3 0 TH MAY 2 0 1 6

The Surrey County Show The 62nd Surrey County Show held at Stoke Park in Guildford was a great success and bigger and better than ever

An abundance of attractions ensured a fantastic turnout with thousands of people enjoying the Grand Arena entertainment, the hundreds of animals, the children activities and the acres of shopping.

46 surreyoccasions.co.uk

Organised by the Surrey County Agricultural Society, a small charity based in Bramley, the show ran from 8am until 6pm and proved an action packed day out for the whole family.

SO Events

With agriculture at the heart of the show, visitors were able to get up close to animals of all shapes and sizes. Cows, pigs, sheep, goats and chickens, many bathed, trimmed and blow dried in preparation, battled for the rosettes and the champions graced the Grand Arena in the traditional winner’s parade. Smaller animals could be found too, including ducklings in the petting farm and bees in the honey tent. As well as wondering at the live bee release, visitors could sample local honey products and roll their own bees wax candles.

The Grand Arena also hosted James Dylan and his team of motorcycle riders who wowed the crowds with their daredevil stunts and breath-taking jumps. Equally exciting were the two show jumping classes with some of the UK’s top horse and rider combinations clearing huge fences in a nail biting jump off. The scurry ponies, a real favourite at the show also showed their speed and fiercely competitive nature in this yearly spectacle.

Food lovers were not disappointed this year with foods from all over the world available as well as local produce from the Surrey Farmers’ Market and the English wine bar. The Food Theatre was packed as visitors enjoyed watching celebrity chef Dan Britten demonstrate some of his favourite recipes and an award winning Oxshott butcher revealed how to prepare various meats.

Children were spoilt this year and their smiling faces shone through throughout the day. Top of their agenda was a scavenger hunt which took them on a trip around the show ground and past the Millers Ark petting farm. This area of the show ground really delighted visitors of all ages who were treated to several performances from The Sheep Show as well as the Wood Street Village Maypole Dancers. The donkey

rides proved as popular as ever as did the hilarious Punch & Judy.

The Countryside Arena was once again at the heart of the show with all day rural entertainment. Sheep dogs, gun dogs and beagles represented our canine friends and visitors had great fun entering their own over excited dogs in to the terrier racing. Countryside lovers watched in awe as majestic birds of prey showed us how they hunt their prey and fly fishing fans were given demonstrations of this increasingly popular sport. Close by was the dog ring featuring the amazing and heart-warming Service Dogs UK, dog agility and the popular fun dog show where dogs and their owners took home rosettes and fabulous prizes in classes including ‘Best Rescue Dog’ and ‘Dog with the Best Trick’.

The show was lucky this year to feature several young and talented artists from the Guildford Academy of Music, making the bandstand a must see (and hear!) stop off.

Equally impressive were the arrangements in the floristry competition. And they smelled as good as they looked!

Shopping bags were empty on arrival but full at the end of the day. The acres of trade stands offered everything from country clothing to unique jewellery to colourful homewares.

With so much to see and do, one day at the show just isn’t enough.

Put next year’s date in your diary now – 29th May 2017!

Don’t forget to visit: surreyoccasions.co.uk to see our video reports of the day’s events.

surreyoccasions.co.uk 47

SO Music Gloria Jones

Children of the Revolution Claire Mahoney talks to the late Marc Bolan’s partner Gloria Jones about a very special project that will see his musical legacy live on a in small corner of West Africa.

For fans of Marc Bolan, the night of September 16th 1977 will be etched forever in their minds. It was the day that the hugely influential glam-rock singer was killed instantly in a devastating car accident on his journey home to Richmond after an evening out in London.

That night we lost one of the most influential performers of the 1970s. But at the wheel of the car was someone else with an extraordinary music career – Gloria Jones, Marc’s partner and mother to their two-year old son, Rolan.

Gloria was badly injured following the accident and spent weeks in hospital. That night she lost her ‘soul-mate’ and sustained significant damage to her vocal chords, all of which had a huge impact on her career.

Gloria is perhaps best known for the song: ‘Tainted Love,’ which was a huge hit for Soft Cell in 1981. The single was originally recorded as a b-side in 1965 and later revived by Northern Soul DJs in the 70s.

However, less well known, is Gloria’s hugely successful writing and producing career which in the 60s and early 70s saw her become one of the first female in-house producers at Motown. Here Gloria worked alongside fellow writer, and Essex girl, Pam Sawyer under the stewardship of Motown founder Berry Gordy.

During her time at Motown she helped to write and produce many of the Motown classics that we know and love. She wrote for artists including Marvin Gaye, The Jackson 5, The Supremes, Junior Walker and The Four Tops. And in 1971 her song: “If I Was

48 surreyoccasions.co.uk

Your Woman’, which was recorded for Gladys Night and the Pips and was nominated for a Grammy.

She says of her time at the label: “Berry Gordy was always a visionary who encouraged women to pursue their dreams and goals.

You felt that nothing was ever that far from you. Just imagine an English girl from Romford Essex and a black American woman from Ohio working with some of the most gifted musicians in the world!”

Today Gloria, 70, lives in the small town of Makeni in Sierra Leone, West Africa. There she dedicates her time to raising funds for the Marc Bolan School of Music. Her aim is to create a living legacy for Marc that will enable children who are under-privileged and disadvantaged and have suffered the horrors of civil war to experience the joys of music.

Gloria knew from an early age that she would eventually come to Africa after seeing images of the plight of children there on the TV. “At the age of 10, I remember I was watching the news with my father Elder Richard Baby Jones in our small one bedroom apartment in Los Angeles. I will never forget seeing images of children suffering there and knew that one day I would come to Africa and help the people to have a purpose in life”.

She first had the idea for the school when she visited the country with her son Rolan. “Our dream for the school was very natural.

Once you arrive in Freetown (the capital city) you immediately hear music. Musicians playing in the streets, marching bands, children dancing. It was electrifying. When these children shared their experiences of the civil war with us we knew we would have

SO Music Gloria Jones

to help them and that was when my son Rolan asked me to come to Makeni and build a school in honour of his father.”

Initially the project was able to support the hire of two rooms where two local teachers would teach around 60 children for a couple of hours on the weekend. In 2014 land was acquired to build the school and local architects – the aptly-named Bolans Architects offered to design the school for free.

Last year the project set up the Light of Love Foundation Charitable organisation in the UK to channel funds to the school.

Its record label - the Light of Love Wax Co Label, released a limited edition single of Gloria’s hit ‘Tainted Love.’ It sold out within 12 hours. Another single from Gloria is set to be released this June which will be a re-recording of the Rita and the Tiaras classic, ‘Gone with the Wind is my Love.’

But there is still much work to be done with the total cost of building the school thought to be in the region of £40,000. Fans of Marc Bolan have been fully supportive of the campaign, donating prized memorabilia to the charity, including a guitar and a T-shirt worn by Marc. Land has also been set aside for another school in Ghana. Funds raised will also be shared with the British Red Cross to continue to combat the Ebola crisis in the region.

“We are well on our way to raising the funds that we need to continue to build our school in Marc’s name. We will bring music and dance to the most vulnerable, disadvantaged and marginalised people, in a place that I hold so fondly in my heart,” says Gloria.

Gloria with students of The Marc Bolan School of Music in Makeni

You can follow the campaign on: facebook.com/marcbolanschool/ and Twitter page which is @MBSchoolofMusic For more information about the school, visit: marcbolanschool.com

SO Secret Surrey

10 T H I N G S YO U MIGHT NOT KNOW ABOUT

1 3 5

Dorking Dorking is especially famous for the five-toed Dorking fowl, which is the town’s symbol. A ten-foothigh cockerel sculpture is mounted on the roundabout at the entrance to the town at Deepdene.

Dorking has good rail and road connections. Furthermore, its excellent schools and easy access to public spaces such as Ranmore and Box Hill make it popular with families. The two comprehensive secondary schools The Ashcombe and The Priory are regularly oversubscribed.

The Dorking Halls complex to the eastern edge was extensively refurbished in the late 90s and now has a theatre and cinema, swimming pool, gym and sports centre – with tennis, table tennis, cricket nets, badminton and five-a-sidefootball facilities as well as a crèche and café.

7

Dorking’s caves, hewn in the sandstone are accessed from South Street. Really manmade tunnels, some dating back to the 1750s, they were used for wine stores, and possibly hiding contraband. One ‘cave’ underneath a shop near Pump Corner was used for cock fighting. Tours of the caves are available in the summer through the Dorking Museum. dorkingmuseum.org.uk

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6

2 4

Dorking is a town in north-east Surrey, nestling in a valley next to the Pipp Brook, a tributary of the River Mole and surrounded by open countryside.

It has three train stations, the main one with a journey time of just under an hour to London.

St Martin’s church is the Victorian landmark in the town centre built in 1877 with a distinctive 210-ft spire. There has been a church on the same spot since the 11th century.

William Mullins is one of Dorking’s most famous sons. From his house in West Street, he sailed to Virginia, USA in the Mayflower in 1620 as one of the original Pilgrim Fathers. His house remains intact and dates from 1550. A blue plaque marks the spot, as does one in Wathen Road for Laurence Olivier who was born there in 1907. Other famous connections include Vaughan Williams, Thomas Cubitt, the builder and Charles Dickens, who is said to have based part of ‘The Pickwick Papers’ on the town.

16th century West Street is known as the antiques part of town and many independent shops such as Talbot House Antiques, sell and stock former heirlooms as well as items at more modest pieces. Antique maps and furniture restoration services are also found here. Established independents in town include the hardware store Cummins, Farm Supplies (showing the town’s rural heritage) and more recently the ladies’ boutique Aya.

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Tucked away just off the High Street on the south side, is the large public space, Meadowbank.

Here, swans and other water fowl enjoy a natural pond, surrounded by willows, fed by the Pipp Brook.

Facilities include a gated children’s playground – due to be enlarged and updated in July with a castle, among other improvements – and a skate park and basketball nets.

9

Being around 25 miles from London, Dorking was a popular coaching halt, the White Horse in the High Street still with original cobbled courtyard and the Bull’s Head in South Street being examples. The arrival of the railway in the 1850s saw an influx of day-trippers, especially to Box Hill, a beauty spot nearby.

The Deepdene Trail – funded with £1m of Lottery money – will open on 10 September. It involves rebuilding part of the 300-year-old Italianate Deepdene Gardens, long overgrown and abandoned. The seven mile off-road route will include Thomas Hope’s mausoleum, built in the Greek style in 1818, prompted by the death of his seven year old son. The walk will extend to Betchworth Castle and include the ancient Rhododendron woods. The undertaking is supported by local businesses, Mole Valley District Council and ‘The Friends of Deepdene’, members of the public who volunteer to help. An app is being developed to accompany walkers. facebook.com/TheDeepdeneTrail